Past experiences helped Hanover field hockey come together for 2019 season

Before the start of the season, Jean Essex took the Hanover High School field hockey seniors out to breakfast as a group.

While sitting down with the 10 of them, the Marauders coach shared stories of previous teams that had such a big number of seniors, and what was potentially on the table for this year's group.

"This group has been a phenomenal group," Essex said. "I took them out to breakfast, just the seniors, and I said I’ve had two other groups with 10 seniors. They could have come together and could have gotten it done, but they didn’t. Learn from that mistake and they really took it to heart."

This group of seniors had something else motivating them that those previous teams didn't, having experienced back-to-back heartbreaking losses in the Division II championship game. Hanover finally broke through on Sunday, beating Souhegan 3-0 to win the program's first title since 2009.

But not only did Hanover's 10 seniors have to figure out roles among themselves, there were also underclassmen in the mix, along with a new face that was already familiar to the Marauders. During the offseason, Hanover added Kate Blaisdell to the mix after her family moved to town from Windham, the team that beat the Marauders in the title game in 2017.

"It’s tough to switch high schools, it’s tough to switch academically and socially," Essex said. "It’s tough to switch systems and what’s expected of you. She had to learn 17 players on the team. She had a lot she had to deal with.

"I also give credit to the other 17 who were extremely embracing. There could have been a lot of different things going on there. It’s going to take time, but we’ll figure it out. We don’t need to peak now, we need to peak at the end."

It did take time, and some changes, as Blaisdell moved from the forward position she had played for Windham back to the midfield, where she joined seniors Macy Curtis, Maggie Logan and Katie Naughton.

"She’s developed so much as a part of our team," Curtis said. "Her game is very different from when she came on the team and I think it’s so much better. None of us try to do it by ourselves anymore. We make the smart pass, we make the smart play because we know the ball can do more work than we can before it gets tired."

Both Blaisdell and Curtis came up big for the Marauders in the postseason, as Blaisdell had what end up being the game-winning goals in the semifinals and final. Curtis scored on two penalty strokes, including one in overtime in the quarterfinals to beat Goffstown.

"(Blaisdell) and Macy and Maggie and Katie play so well together in the midfield," Essex said. "They can see, they can distribute, they understand offense and defense. She’s been a key addition to that midfield line. She’s been able to help move the ball for us."

Getting to be a part of the team that got Hanover to the top was a big motivating factor for Blaisdell.

"I was just so excited to do it for the seniors," she said. "They’ve been here so many times. I just really wanted to do it for them."

And now, when it's time to have a preseason meal with a big group of seniors, there will be a story to tell about the group that got it done.

"I’m going to keep this with me for the rest of my life," Curtis said. "I’m so proud of the seniors and the rest of the team. I’ll never forget any of them and I’ll always remember this game."