Some time off helped Kennett field hockey regroup after slow start (video)

MANCHESTER - Amanda Werner went into the season knowing that her Kennett High School field hockey team was going to be a lot different.

It had to be, with the Eagles losing seven seniors, all of whom played a major role in the team reaching the Division II championship game last year.

Stepping in for most of those seniors were players with little varsity experience, and in some cases, freshmen. And add on the later start to the preseason, which eliminated what is typically a second week of double sessions for Kennett, and things got off to a rough start.

"We missed out on a lot of preseason," Werner said. "We only got three days of doubles, and with a new team, you want to have every minute with them. Give me two weeks, let me get them starting to think and play with each other and that experience. We’re a very young team, but by the end of the season, you’ll see some great things."

The Eagles are wrapping up their second week of the regular season, and after dropping their first two games, they bounced back with a pair of wins to even their record to 2-2.

In between those games, Kennett had an unexpected week off, due to a postponement, and instead of spending all of that time on the field, Werner let the team have some time off.

"They did some team bonding," the coach said. "I can teach you everything I know on the field, but if you guys aren’t a unit and fighting for each other, you’re not going to fight for each other on the field. I think that changed when they did that team bonding and they talked it out. They came back (to practice) and they were ready to work."

The players viewed it as a chance to start the season over after those first two losses.

"Reset the brain," sophomore Emma Gaudette said. "It let everything in the past stay in the past and gives you time to rethink things and get it out of your head."

And it gave time for everyone on the team another opportunity just to get familiar with each other before the regular season really took off.

"Having (the younger players) feel like they’re a part of it is important," junior Raegan Armstrong said. "It’s a brand new team, brand new starting lineup. We’re trying to rebuild our foundation and they’re going to be a part of it for the next four years."

In Tuesday's 1-0 win over Derryfield, the Eagles saw one of those younger players come up big when the opportunity presented itself.

With time winding down in the first quarter, Kennett was awarded a penalty corner. Gaudette got the ball at the top of the circle, dished it off to Armstrong, who fired a shot toward the far post.

That's where freshman Lucy Dingman was waiting with her stick in the right spot to redirect the ball into the goal for her first varsity score.

"Exactly where she was supposed to be, holding the line," Werner said. "We’ve been working on that all week, and she stepped in and did exactly what she was told to do."

Kennett followed that win up with a 2-0 road victory over Milford on Thursday.

"It’s awesome," Gaudette said of the bounce back. "It really teaches everyone to have confidence and how to get back into it. When you put everything you have out there, you can end up with a good outcome."