It's All About The Team For Field Hockey In 2009
It's All About The Team For Field Hockey In 2009
CHICOPEE, MA - Believe.
Laugh. Attitude.
Zeal. Energy.
Respect. Support. These seven
ideals describe the expectations for the 2009 Elms College field
hockey season.
During their first season of competition in the New England
Collegiate Conference (NECC), the Blazers compiled a 4-4 league
record and earned a spot in the conference’s inaugural
championship game. Six players also received NECC accolades as
midfielders Denise Perks (Blackstone, MA) and Ellen Silva (Palmer,
MA) were named First-Team All-NECC. Perks was third in the NECC in
both goals (7) and points (15), while Silva netted a pair of goals
and added six points during the 2008 campaign.
In addition to its two first team representatives, Elms placed
four players, including forward Courtney Gilmore (Mansfield, MA),
senior midfielder Kaitlyn Graham (Paxton, MA),
forward Sarah Lapolice (West Springfield, MA) and senior defender
Danielle Gero (Holyoke, MA) on the Honorable
Mention All-NECC squad.
Fresh off a season of great success, the anticipation and hope for
greater achievement is clearly evident amongst the coaches and
players.
“We are starting off in a better position than ever
before,” head coach Katie Grabiec stated.
“There is a sense of carrying on from last year, of picking
up where we left off. The athletes returned to campus in better
shape. There is just a different vibe about this team.”
Forwards/Midfielders
Though the front line for the Blazers will feature some new faces,
two key returners will anchor the Elms attack. Graham, who finished
the 2008 season with eight points, will be accompanied by
Danielle Boyer (South Hadley, MA) who strung
together seven points.
Both four-year starters under Coach Grabiec, Graham and Boyer will
play an instrumental role in providing leadership, guidance and
establishing a foundation for their younger teammates to
follow.
Defenders
The Blazers will be more experienced on defense this season, as
Gero and junior Heather Keith (South Hadley, MA)
will look to ward off the attacking opposition.
Last season, Gero recorded a defensive save and added a goal en
route to earning Honorable Mention All-NECC status.
Newcomers on defense include sophomore Emily McInerney
(Glastonbury, CT) and freshman Laura Sweetman
(Springfield, MA). Both will see substantial playing time
in the back for the Blazers.
Goal Keeper
Minding the net will be freshman Alexandra Bonavita
(Agawam, MA).
Schedule
One of the staples of the Elms field hockey program under Coach
Grabiec is that the team will entertain an ultra-competitive
schedule.
In addition to its traditional contests against local rivals Smith
(Sept. 17) and Westfield State (Sept. 24), the 2009 slate will
feature bouts against non-conference foes Lasell (Oct. 8) and
Western New England (Oct. 28).
Following its season-opening tilt against Regis (Sept. 9), Elms
will travel to Vassar to partake in the Betty Richey Tournament
(Sept. 12-13) which will also include Manhattanville and MIT.
“We have always played a quality non-conference
schedule,” Coach Grabiec explained. “This prepares us
for our league matches and the tournament.”
The Blazers are joined in the NECC by Becker College, Daniel
Webster, Bay Path, and Wheelock and will compete twice against each
of its four conference opponents.
“I think we match up very well with the other teams in this
conference,” Coach Grabiec noted. “We have a taste for
winning in the league now and a feeling of ‘we can do
it’.”
Wrap-Up
Despite some inexperience and an overall lack of depth, the one
thing that does not lack from this group is a desire to win as a
team.
“This team will work together,” Coach Grabiec stated.
“There is a true feeling of sticking together, believing in
each other, supporting one another, and pushing each other to be
better. They are a team in the truest sense of the word.”
