Westbrook Field Hockey Gearing Up for Quality Season
The Westbrook field hockey team posted another impressive season in 2019 reaching both the Shoreline Conference Tournament final and the Class S State Tournament semifinal en route to an overall record of 15-3-3. With the 2020 season looming, the Knights are planning for a potentially bigger year this fall.
Head Coach Janet Dickey and her squad have some gaps to fill that graduated seniors will have left behind, but there’s plenty of young and veteran talent to available for Westbrook to have a successful campaign.
Though the Knights were unable to climb all the way to the pinnacle last year, Coach Dickey felt proud of everything her team accomplished. Westbrook played the eventual state champions tough in a double-overtime loss versus Granby in the Class S semis, and this year, there are several returning players who now have that experience under their belts.
“It was disappointing to lose against Granby, but they are a fantastic team. We took them to two overtimes, and they eventually ended up winning it all,” Dickey said. “I’m really excited to get into this year. I have seven seniors that have played a lot of varsity time as they’ve come up.”
Perhaps the most notable of those returning players is goalie Lauren Horne. The senior goaltender has already racked up some serious accolades including All-Shoreline Conference First Team, All-State, and National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-Region honors. Horne allowed just 10 goals total last year.
“Lauren Horne is no doubt going to be our goalie. That spot is solidified, and I think she can be even better this year,” said Dickey. “She may see even more shots this year. She’s really athletic, and she may shock some people with that this year.”
Playing in the backfield and trying to limit the shots that Horne will have to contend with is senior Bailey Roberts. Coach Dickey believes that Roberts can be effective as the spearhead of the defense and help the Knights in transition.
“I’d like to push her up field a bit and see her as an attacking center defense. She’s got a phenomenal shot,” Dickey said. “I’d like to have her pushing the attack, but we’ll see. I have to see the foot speed we have in general first.”
Alongside Roberts will be fellow senior defender Karen Sicha. Coach Dickey knows she can rely on Sicha on the outside, but what is yet to be determined is who is best suited to support her and Roberts in the backfield.
“Karen Sicha is pretty speedy, so she could step up to the line. I’m expecting her to be an outside defender. That’s where she was comfortable and effective last year,” Dickey said. “We just have to figure out who’s going to plug in around her. We’ll see where our strengths lie.”
As for the midfield, there are still some question marks for the Knights. Putting together a team is not just about where athletes are capable of playing, but rather how their roles complement each other. One potential midfielder will be senior Meagan Greaves, who is a versatile offensive weapon for Westbrook.
“Megan Greaves can be a forward or a midfielder. If she can get everything just right, she’ll be really good for us,” said Dickey. “If the ball is on her stick in the circle, she’s a scoring threat every time.”
Senior Cierra Brundage represents another in-between player who can slide into multiple roles depending on Westbrook’s needs. Coach Dickey imagines Brundage will play either on defense or in the midfield.
“Cierra Brundage is very fast. It’s just going to be a difference of where I want that speed; in the midfield or on defense,” Dickey said. “Everything is fluid for us. It’s what puzzle piece works for us today, and how will we make it all fit.”
Coach Dickey expects senior Marguerite Bartlett to return as a forward this year, and she has plenty of potential at the position.
“Marguerite has done a great job and only has little things to clean up at this point,” Dickey said. “I think she’ll be a very good forward for us. Hopefully, she’s worked on those little things in the offseason, and it will all come together for her.”
Up front alongside Barlett will be fellow senior Brooke Neri. Coach Dickey expects Neri’s best assets to be her dependability and consistency.
“Brooke’s a very steady player. We have to do our best to keep her healthy,” Dickey said. “She’ll be our a left wing or potentially an attacking center forward.”
Some other players that should be making headway for Westbrook are junior Gabriella Koplas and sophomores Delaney Belcourt, Halley Pierson, and Caroline Dias.
“Gabriella worked her way up to subbing in as a sophomore in different spots. She doesn’t back down when it’s a big game. She’s going to be in those spots when we need her,” said Dickey. “Delaney Belacourt and Halley Pierson are in the mix on attack. They are speedy and have strong cross balls. So they would be on the outside wing and distributing. Caroline Dias had a big impact on JV last year, and she could step up big for us.”
Coach Dickey believes that the Knights have the skills necessary to contend, and while the Shoreline Conference has some formidable foes, she’s more concerned with her squad taking care of its own business.
“I look at our conference, and every game is a tough game. Our conference is really well matched. There are some bigger conferences that think that we aren’t much, but once they play us, they have a different perspective,” Dickey said. “At Westbrook, we focus on what we’re doing. If we take care of that, we’ll finish where we should. We have a very strong tradition, and the girls that have been here for three years know it and know what they have to do.”