80 Girls Try Out For Rams 2010 Field Hockey Team

Erin Gildea was appointed head field hockey coach one day before the start of school last year. The team and the new coach exchanged a few "how do you do's," had two weeks of practice, and  ran off eight successive wins to open the season. That was followed by a tie and then three more wins in a row before they lost their first game, 1-0, to Greenwich. The next time they played Greenwich, the Rams won, 2-1. 

They finished the 2009 season at 17-4-1 with three of the four losses to unbeaten Darien who were the FCIAC and State Champions. Darien hasn't lost a match in three years and are the favorites to win again this year.

Despite the loss of some key players Gildea thinks the Rams gained a new-found confidence toward the end of last year that will carry over into the coming season. 

"The league (FCIAC) is very competitive and with teams like Darien, Greenwich, Wilton, Norwalk, Staples and Stamford, there's a lot more talent from top to bottom than in past seasons," she said. "More girls go to summer camps and work out in the off-season. There aren't very many easy games any more."

"Based on last season's performance, we will now have a target on our backs," said co-captain Caroline Falcone.

Co-captain Amanda Milunovich added,"the program is really growing; last year's excellent season attracted a lot of new girls."

Looking ahead to the coming season, Gildea said "We'll be hardest hit up the middle. The loss of Greer Stichnoth is big, but co-captain Jasmine Allen, whose game is similar to Greer's, is feisty and tough. Jasmine was First-Team All-East."

Four-year starter Betsy Hart, the Rams leading scorer, has graduated."She took 95% of the free hits, was also a great assist man and a great leader," said the coach.

Also gone among the 12 graduates in the class of 2010 are Maggie Burke, "team leader and scorer who was always the first on the field and the last one off it," said Gildea. Burke was  First Team All-State and All-FCIAC.

Shelby Barada also graduated. Gildea referred to her as "one of the steadiest players."

But there's a lot of talent coming back and a lot of talent moving up through the ranks according to the coach who welcomed 80 girls to the conditioning workouts. The winning season has piqued interest among the younger kids as the program continues to grow.

The 2010 Rams will have four captains, all seniors: Caroline "Crunchtime" Falcone, who has a knack for scoring when the game is on the line and scored the winning goal in the FCIAC semis and the goal against Branford in the states, Angelique Kyriakos, goalie Amanda Milunovich, and Melanie Sztorc.

Gildea said goalie Milunovich "is my hardest worker-someone who studies and loves the game."

Starters are expected to be seniors Allen, Kyriakos, Austin Ready, and Bailey Wright, and junior Sztorc..

The 2010 Rams open the 16-game regular-season at  Danbury, Sept. 14.