Patch Preview: SHS Field Hockey Looks Like a Lock

The Stonington High field hockey team is as close to a lock for the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship as you'll find in any sport.

Stonington may return a new lineup and still win. The Bears may return eight of 11 starters and still win. All they do is win to the tune of 24 ECC crowns in 26 years. And in 2008 when they finished second, the Bears reached the Class S semifinals.

Bad news for Bears' opponents. Stonington returns quality in all ends of the field in 2011. Can the silver ECC title be far behind. Wow, SHS field hockey is catching up to the Yankees' 27 crowns.

Stonington graduated Randi Parrilla, Stonington-Mystic Patch Female Athlete of Fall, and her 22 goals from a 12-2 squad that reached the S quarterfinals. Ace defender Brianna Minicucci also graduated.

Plenty of firepower remains on the forward line, led by All-ECC juniorSteph Stearns (13 goals) and ECC honorable mention sophomoreLibby Morrisson (5 goals, 7 assists).

Junior Jackie Albert returns to midfield where she made Class S All-State second team along with Parrilla after chipping in offensively with two goals and six assists and engineering the defensive side of the field. Juniors Maya Depasquale, an ECC Honorable Mention pick, andChloe Slater complete the tight solid midfield.

Senior Kate Aiello and Stephanie Albert return as defensive starters in front of senior goalkeeper Julie Royer, an All-ECC pick who helped the Bears post 10 shutouts.

Sophomores Meg O’Lari, Tia LaFrance-Boyce, Celeste Courtney,Emily Cassata join the varsity for the first time.

Coach Jenna Tucchio wasn't quite ready to proclaim this her best team in years, possibly attempting to motivate the squad.

"It's hard to say if this is my best returning team," she said. "To start the season I would say probably not.  In 2008 we were in the semifinals and that was a strong team to start the year and in 2009 we had nine seniors, all returning starters.  So I would have to say at this point, no."

But still plenty good enough.

Fitch emerges from its baptism and gets thrown into the real world, opening Tuesday at Waterford in its varsity debut.

Coach Diane Kolnaski, whose sister-in-law Paulla Solar helped start the SHS program, guides the first-year varsity team after two seasons of club status. Fitch hopes to win a few games while improving their skills in the faster-paced varsity level.

"Great varsity programs were not built overnight," Kolnaski said. "I tell the girls after practice, you worked hard but you have to improve and be a better player after practice tomorrow. We have to improve day by day."

Any win should be gravy for Fitch. The Falcons are elated a three-year campaign to start Fitch varsity field hockey came to fruition when the Board of Education granted them varsity status in the spring.

Three senior captains who were instrumental in rallying for a varsity team will start - Anna Hermann on defense, Joanie Haling at forward and Elizabeth Nolan at midfield. Haling playing at Williams School and Nolan in Pennsylvania before transferring here

"All three captains are veteran players who provide strong leadership and talent in their respective field positions," Kolnaski said.

Returning juniors are: Annie Edwards- attack, Caitlin Noel- forward,Ashley Hall –forward, Paige Vinson- forward, Clare Doyle - fullback,Jocelyn Rogers – back-up  goalie and defense, Sarah Giblin - midfielder, Lexi Abbiati- midfielder.

Returning sophomores  are: Sierra Scott- fullback, Kendra Blomstedt- midfielder, Susannah Lucey- forward, Avery Fiftal- forward,  and  Bailey Mahler- midfielder. Emma Nolan, also a sophomore and returning player, is the starting goalie. FreshmenKeyna Dailey-fullback, Maggie Adams- fullback, Evelene Cook- forward and Shelby Larubina- midfielder are also on the roster.

Tropical Storm Irene and this week's rain has limited sorely needed pre-season practice time, but Kolnaski said spirits are still high.

Fitch will play home against at Mystic Education Center's field. The opener there is Sept. 16 against NFA at 3:45.

Waterford

The Lancers struggled to a 2-13-1 record last season after qualifying for the Class M state tournament in 2008 and 2009. Coach Traci Susilooks for a step toward a respectable record this year.

Senior Allie Wiggins, an All-Area lacrosse player, looks to score often from the attack position. Senior Kierstyn Smith anchors the midfield.

VOLLEYBALL

The Fitch High volleyball team struggled through an uncharacteristic regular season last year, posting just an 11-9 record. It was a rare mediocre stretch of play for 16-year coach Steve Banks, who has led Fitch to two Class LL state finals and numerous ECC Large crowns.

But 2010 was not a disappointment after all. Fitch came through when it counted, knocking off two higher seeded teams in the Class L state tournament to reach the semifinals before losing 3-1 to eventual champ East Lyme.

"It took us a while to get going but we caught fire in the states," Banks said. "The strong finish put a positive spin on the season."

Fitch graduated All-State pick Jocelyn Smith, but returns what Banks labeled "a strong nucleus." The Falcons will need a tight unit to compete in the ECC Large where East Lyme returns four starters, NFA is traditionally strong and Woodstock is vastly improved.

Senior setter Jackie Lockett, senior outside hitter Kelsey Armstrong, senior middle hitter Maura Brown and junior Ebony Bell head the list of returnees. Banks got a late practice start because of storm-related power outages in Groton, but he has a deep roster to fill in complimentary players.

"East Lyme is formidable in the ECC and RHAM, a Class M powerhouse, moved up to Class L," Banks said. "But if we serve and play defense we'll be right in the mix."

Waterford

The Lancers graduated key players from last year's state tournament team (14-6 record), including All-ECC pick Katelyn Sykora, but talented athletes return for coach Josh Eudy.

Kelli Conners (setter), Jena Gorra (defense), Christine Hadfield(middle hitter) and Mariah Shafer (defense) head the returning lettermen. Varsity newcomers Jaime Dahl, Sanora Fahey, Jill Fal,Kelsey Johnson and Elaine Sullivan round out the squad.

"We are a young team," Eudy said, "but we are looking for growth throughout the season."

Ledyard

Coach Shirley Krakow feels very optimistic that the Colonels will improve upon last year's one-win season. An infusion on young talent fuels her positive outlook.

"We have a tremendous amount of potential and are excited about the talent, leadership and unity of this group," Krakow said. "They have worked hard conditioning over the summer and it shows in their ability to transition quickly to attack and play defense.

Laura Levis, Kylie Fustini, Danielle Gigi and Tori Wolfe are the top returnees. The top newcomers are sophomores Ari Fustini,Alyssa Gregory, Rachel Gernert and Brianna Riley and freshmenMichelle Klinikowski and Jenny Nohara.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Fitch 

Fitch has battled East Lyme neck-and-neck in the ECC regular season for years, relying on a bevy of superstar performances from the likes ofAlivia Berg, Rachel Kent and Addison Koelle to overcome the Vikings' overwhelming edge in depth. East Lyme's strength in numbers proves too much for Fitch in the championship meet despite the fact Fitch dominates first place finishes.

This year, Fitch (8- 2 in 2010) has better numbers roster-wise, but do they have the superstars to contend with East Lyme, which was undefeated a year ago.

Coach Ken Berg welcomes back All-America diver Lindsay Nolan, who also swims freestyle. Renee Harris (freestyle, backstroke),Jackie Kokomoor (freestyle), Grace Moriarty (backstroke) andSarah Ferguson (butterfly).

Fitch will share practice time with Waterford at Avery Point pool.  Lancers' pool is unusable as the high school is undergoing contruction. Berg reached out to WHS coach Brett Arnold to welcome the team, which was searching for the area's limited aquatic training sites.

Berg is giving back in a way. When Avery Point's pool and gym were damaged during a storm a few years back, Fitch practiced and staged home meets at New London High, which now does not use its pool.

Waterford's numbers are down from past years because of traveling issues for training. But the Lancers (5-6 last year) welcome back Abby Gatheral, the ECC individual medley champ as a junior last year.

Other key Lancer swimmers include senior Bri Vetel, juniors Ali McDermott and Rachel Crawford and promising freshmen Asia Langley and Katherine Ward.

Ledyard

Ledyard won just one meet last year, but the 2011 season is already looking brighter.

Jessica Hespeler is returning to the program as a junior after concentrating on AAU club swimming last year. Hespeler was the Day'sAll-Area Swimmer of the Year as a freshman.

Coach Alan Opsahl expects Hespeler's presence will lift an otherwise developmental situation for many young swimmers.

"We are also focusing on stroke technique for the girls that are new to competitive swimming," Opsahl said. "All the girls have a great attitude and are ready for the season to begin."

Returning swimmers include: captain MaryKate Malone, Hespeler,Cassidy Powell, Qiuyin Ren, Raagan Wicken and Lucy Zhang.

New swimmers include Amy Knight, Emily Butler, Madison Curcuro and Gretchen Montgomery. 

"The outlook for this year is a rebuilding year," Opsaid said, "however we should have some individual swimmers and relays that will complete well at the ECC and state levels."