Croton-Harmon will open the season with a tough game at Fox Lane 4:15 p.m. Sept. 8.
Luckily for the Tigers they will be led this season by three enthusiastic, hard-working senior co-captains in center-forward Lauren Thomann, midfielder Maggie Dinger and defender Dea Barbieri.
All three work really hard at improving their skills on a daily basis because they love playing field hockey, are highly competitive and are determined to be the best players that they can be according to Thomann.
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Thomann feels that playing a tough team like Fox Lane is good to open the season with because it will be a good gage to see where the team stands compared to the better teams in Section 1.
“That is what we need to motivate us and get our confidence up,” Thomann said. “If we can tie or get a win that would be great.”
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Thomann said that the key to beating Fox Lane and having success this year will be coming together as one cohesive unit because the team lost some key players who graduated a year ago.
“Practicing together and working all together is really important for us to do well,” Thomann said.
Thomann said what helps her is her speed when she plays forward.
“I have also been able to develop my dribbling technique over the last couple of years so that has made me a better player as well,” Thomann said.
Thomann said that Dinger has always been a leader for the Tigers.
“She always knows what she is doing,” Thomann said. “She is probably the most dedicated player on this team. She is really just an all-around solid field hockey player. Whatever you need her to do, she is there for the team, she will do it.”
Barbieri will do whatever is required of her on the defensive end of the field.
“She is a strong defender,” Thomann said. “What makes her such a good field-hockey player is that she is really into it. She does a good job on defending the other team’s best offensive players.”
Thomann said that the Tigers’ senior trio realizes how important their leadership will be to this squad this fall.
“We lost a lot of seniors from last year’s team so to have a few captains revved up and motivated to play is really helpful and important,” Thomann said “It keeps everyone going and makes the team feel confident that it can win.”
Two key juniors looking to help the Tigers win are goalie Kayla Barlow and forward/midfielder Dani Douglas.
“Kayla just started playing in goal a couple of years ago but she got really good really quickly,” Thomann said. “We needed someone to step up at that position and she did it. She is a fast learner.”
Giving the Tigers someone on the offensive side that can put the ball in the goal is Douglas.
“She is a good goal scorer, she is very important because we need someone like her who can put the ball in the goal,” Thomann said. “She is definitely a top goal-scorer.”
