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# New faces looking to become familiar ones for Souhegan field hockey
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/new-faces-looking-to-become-familiar-ones-for-souhegan-field-hockey/
- Published: 2021-08-18T18:02:39.000Z
- Updated: 2021-08-18T18:02:39.000Z
- Description: AMHERST - No one wore a name tag at the first preseason practice for the Souhegan High School field hockey team. But if someone had, it would have been understood. The Sabers officially returned to the field on Monday with a group of 50 girls looking to help the program reach the Division II final f
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, field hockey, NH High School Sports Insider, Sabers, slider, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

AMHERST - No one wore a name tag at the first preseason practice for the Souhegan High School field hockey team.

But if someone had, it would have been understood.

The Sabers officially returned to the field on Monday with a group of 50 girls looking to help the program reach the Division II final for the third year in a row. Before that can happen though, Souhegan has to figure out who is going to replace the dozen seniors who were on last season's team.

That process started with a team-building exercise before practice fully got underway.

"I was so glad to see faces that I’ve seen before and new faces," senior Karina Kruchynska said. "Just being with teammates who love the sport of field hockey, it brings me so much joy. We were out on the grass for an hour, just doing team-building things. I think that’s an important aspect, the connections that you make off the field that bring you together on the field."

Kruchynska and the other returning players will be tasked with doing that quick with a group that includes a good number of freshmen.

"We’ve got a good amount of spots to fill with only seven varsity returners," Souhegan coach Kelli Braley said. "The nice thing is, the way that the program is set up, from the middle school all the way through, we just get to kind of reload every year.

"It’s Christmas morning for me. To be able to be back out here, on time, not the delayed start like we had last year, is fantastic. We couldn’t get better weather for this. The girls came hungry and ready to work."

Despite having the start of the 2020 season delayed and other restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sabers had plenty of experience a year ago to hit the ground running. It would be a different story for Braley if that were the case again this season.

"If it were last year and we had to just cross our fingers and go ... ," the coach said. "I can take the time to assess if the system we play currently is the best for the pieces that I have this year. It is such a mix. Having these two weeks is vital."

While the younger players may not have that varsity experience, there is some familiarity among each class, with some having played on other teams together and so many participating in offseason programs.

"I’ve played with these girls in other places, too," senior Cari Mastergeorge said. "The connections will grow fast, and we have seven returners, too. They’re good girls, so the foundation is there."

Many of the Sabers participated in the summer league put on by Cave Girl Field Hockey, so many in fact, Souhegan had multiple teams involved.

"We’re one of the teams that has three teams," Kruchynska said. "Just because we only have seven returners doesn’t mean we can’t build another amazing team. That’s one thing Kelli is very good at, building a team. We can build from anyone as long as we have people who are ready to be there and communicate."

Souhegan will host its annual preseason jamboree on Saturday after not getting the opportunity to a year ago, and then play in Manchester Memorial's Playing For a Purpose jamboree on Aug. 28\. The regular season then gets underway on Aug. 30 at Hollis Brookline.

"I’d like to see the pieces fall into place," Braley said. "I think they will. A lot of girls did club and camps and clinics over the summer. I hope we can naturally just fold some things in. We’ve structured our preseason such that it will help those pieces rise and see where they fit. Then it’s a matter of spending time as a team and clicking and gelling and create that kind of family vibe."