Skippers Take Care of Winless Hurricanes

The North Kingstown High School field hockey team dominated the ball en route to a 5-0 victory over Warwick Veterans High School Tuesday.

"I think for this first half we all came out ready to play," said senior Abby Gannon. "Warm-ups were really good, and we all came out just pumped and ready to go."

The Skippers won the game at the center of the field, as they were able to control the ball with crisp passing and keep the ball on the Hurricanes' side of the field. 

"I think because we were beating them to the ball and making accurate passes to teammates, and I definitely think it was a team effort," North Kingstown head coach Julie Maguire said.

North Kingstown (8-4-1 Division I-B) was able to take control of the match early, scoring in the eighth minute off a goal from sophomore Taylor Butler, assisted by senior Sam Leonard.  The early goal was able to give the Skippers a lift both on the scoreboard and mentally.

"It is good for the psyche especially because we haven't had a lot of freedom in scoring recently," Maguire said.  "Being able to score that early in is a good thing and then to come back with a few more is even better."

North Kingstown struck early and often, scoring all three first half goals within a six minute period.  Gannon and Kathryn Coleman followed Butler's goal with one score, each off assists Leonard and freshman April Potter respectively.

This is something that the Skippers were unable to do in a September 13th meeting with Warwick Vets (0-12 Division I-B), in which the two teams played to a scoreless half. 

While North Kingstown was able to get a shutout victory in that contest as well, the Skippers made sure to take control of Tuesday's game much sooner.

"For this game it was different because we came out really strong," said Gannon. "Usually we are a better second half team, but I think we played consistently all the way through the game."

Gannon and co-captain senior Brianna Cain paced the Skippers, setting an example in their level of play that their teammates were more than able to step up to.

"We started up a little slow at the start of the season and I think that they've [Gannon and Cain] raised their level of play and everyone has raised their level of play behind them," Maguire said.  "When your captains start to excel then the rest of your team starts to play to that same ability."

Tuesday's win over the Hurricanes was only the second time this season that the Skippers have scored five goals in a game, the first since their third game of the season.

"I definitely think we can continue to have high scoring games and continue to step up for the rest of the season," Cain said.  "It definitely boosted our morale for the rest of the season."

This is a game that the Skippers believe they can build going forward, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

"From the beginning of the season we've become closer as a team and we've been able to play better as a team," Cain said.  "We've been executing better on all of our plays, and we've been able to score better."

North Kingstown will look to improve on this offensive outburst in their next game when they host Pilgrim High (2-9-1 Division I-B), the last team the Skippers scored five goals on, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Field Hockey

North Kingstown 5, Warwick Veterans 0

Warwick Veterans      0          0 – 0

North Kingstown        3          2 – 5

First Half: NK, Butler (Leonard) 8:08, Gannon (Leonard) 13:01, Coleman (Potter) 14:38.

Second Half: NK, Cain (Potter) 3:40, Butler (Potter) 23:33.

Penalty Corners: NK 6, WV 0

Shots: NK 9; WV 1. 

Saves: NK, Fede 0; WV, 3