Field Hockey Notebook: Timberlane showing it plans to stay at top of D1
The Timberlane Regional High School field hockey team is on a mission to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. After making a surge to win the Division I title last year as the sixth-seeded team, the Owls bring back plenty of punch to compete again. Winnacunnet has been a power for the past seven s
The Timberlane Regional High School field hockey team is on a mission to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke.
After making a surge to win the Division I title last year as the sixth-seeded team, the Owls bring back plenty of punch to compete again. Winnacunnet has been a power for the past seven seasons, and it was in stunning fashion that the Owls got past th Warriors in the final.
In a season of parity throughout NHIAA field hockey, it was fitting. Now, the goal is to be there at the end once more.
“I think it has a tremendous impact, players who were on varsity last year are like new people this year,” said coach Mim Ryan. “They are confident in abilities within team concept. Winning was a big impact, we know we put effort in, anything can happen. I remind them daily that in finishing the way we did, people will be gunning for us.”
The Owls bring back 10 returning players, seven of which are seniors, and eight new faces.
Some of those returners that are going to be relied upon are four year starters Kylie Fitzpatrick, Madison Rockwell, Taryn MacKinnon, and Rachel Paradis, who Ryan calls her “base that the foundation is built upon.”
Another key player is junior Sarah Padellaro, who scored the game-winning championship goal last season and will remain a key player on offense.
For the newcomers, Ryan says Sarah Packowicz and Lily Fay are players worth watching.
With such a big group returning, on paper, it seems like the Owls might be unstoppable, if not for one major concern: goalie.
With both senior goalies graduated from last season, senior Morgan Farbrizo has made her debut as the team’s starting ‘keeper out of pure necessity.
“It’s a learning curve for time and speed at the varsity level,” said Ryan. “So right now, we need Morgan to get the job done. But there’s a solid defense in front of her with experience.”
The Owls are also waiting for junior goalie Sydney Cochran, who is injured and hasn’t been ready to take the field yet.
“The goalkeeping position has inexperience, and we have to work from that position out,” said Ryan. “Overall, defense is something we are stressing daily as far as channeling that to help out in front.”
So far, that looks like one of the only weaknesses for the champs. Already 2-0, the Owls seem to have brought back a lot of what made last season work.
“Playing on turf on Tuesday, we had a nice passing game,” said Ryan. “They’re really hitting their spots. It was pretty, we scored three goals out of five were off corners, which is encouraging. The corner was very good on turf.”
Even with the early success and having the mindset of being a champion, Ryan knows that her team still needs to keep its focus to succeed again.
“I’m blunt with my players,” she said. “Can’t get too up or too down. Have to be humble and do your work, don't worry about what is written in papers, focus on between the white lines. If i feel we’re too high I bring them back down to earth.”
Jaguars looking for more
Windham also found itself in an underdog role as it took down top-seeded Derryfield for the title last year in Division II.
The Jaguars have some key seniors remaining, including senior goalie Abby Harris, but it’s the underclassmen, now all the more experienced, expected to lead the group.
Livi Manchester already looks prime for a breakout season, scoring two goals in the season-opening victory against Goffstown.
Derryfield has graduated the bulk of its team last season with 13 seniors, so that allows some room for the Jaguars to take over as the class of the division.
Still, D2 looks like the tightest division so far, with Souhegan putting up an impressive showing thus far, along with the undefeated likes of Kennett, Milford, and Portsmouth.
Little Green not going anywhere
Manchester Central might be one of the keys to the Division I puzzle, meanwhile, after the program broke out last season. Going 12-1-1, the Little Green shocked the division to end up in the semifinals.
While Timberlane still looks like the class of the top division, Central shouldn’t be ignored. So far, a tough 2-1 loss to Pinkerton and a scoreless tie against Dover might have people questioning the Little Green, but they’ve brought plenty of talent back.
Players of the Week
- Abby Cranney, Souhegan: With three goals to open the season, the tri-sport Sabers star started her season right.
- Livi Manchester, Windham: With two goals in the Jaguars’ victory over Goffstown, she looks ready to take the reigns in Windham.
- Kellie Ryan, Gilford: The defending Division III champs are led by Ryan, who had two goals and an assist against Bishop Brady.
Games of the Week
- Milford (2-0) at Souhegan (2-0), Tuesday, 4 p.m.
- Dover (0-1-1) at Bishop Guertin (2-0), Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
- Kennett (2-0) at Kingswood (1-0-1), Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.
- Lebanon (1-1) at Windham (1-1), Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Top 15
- Pinkerton
- Timberlane
- Derryfield
- Winnacunnet
- Bishop Guertin
- Manchester Central
- Windham
- Souhegan
- Lebanon
- Londonderry
- Gilford
- Bedford
- Kennett
- Pelham
- Milford
