This week we’re reviewing some highlights from DA’s fall sports season. Today’s field hockey highlights include their tough play and big win against No. 2 ranked Westminster.
By Bob York
The forecast at the outset of the season could have been summed up in just one word: Bleak.
The Big Green field hockey squad had lost eight starters from a team that went 8-6-1 and returned just two starters.
“For the most part, we were young and inexperienced,” said coach Kim Wright of a team that went 6-11 overall and 4-9 in the league and failed to earn a tournament berth for just the third time since Deerfield first fielded a team 21 years ago when it went co-ed.” But we played tough throughout the season and the kids really earned their stripes.”
Deerfield would go 1-4 in games decided by a one-goal margin this fall, but that one win was a big one. That was the one the Big Green knocked off No. 2 ranked Westminster, 2-1, as “Westy’s” only other loss on the season came at the hands of New England champion Hotchkiss.
Rookie goaltender Shenae Lundberg (’11) saved the day in that one, as she did all season long.
“Shenae was an amazing addition to our team,” said Wright. She had six games in which she had double-digit saves, which is a lot in field hockey. And she turned away 21 shots by Hotchkiss during that 2-1 win, which is an unbelievable amount.”
Although Lundberg is a rookie goaltender in field hockey, she isn’t a rookie goaltender in ice hockey. In fact, Lundberg, who is the starting goalie for the Big Green girls hockey team, is rated as one of the premier hockey goalies in the entire country in her age bracket.
“She came up to me last spring and asked me if she could try out for the team this fall,” said Wright. “I’d seen what she can do in ice hockey, so I said ‘come right ahead.’ Well, she did, and she made herself right at home in goal.”
Offensively, Jamie Haddad (’12), Nina Kempner (’11), and Kate Anderson (’12) were the big guns this fall. Haddad and Kempner both earned All-League status, while Kempner carted away this year’s Deerfield Field Hockey Cup, after both reached double figures on the scoring charts. Haddad had 18 points on nine goals and nine assists, while Kempner produced 10 points on six goals and four assists. Anderson followed with six goals and two assists for eight points.
Next year’s co-captains are Stephanie Dowling (’12) and Lili Gahagan (’12).
Bob York is a Recorder wire editor. His e-mail address is byork@recorder.com.