4
Rutland Herald Fall Sports Guide 2019
HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW
Raiders, Otters well-stocked for field hockey
F
By Chuck Clarino
CORRESPONDENT
all means field hockey season
and this year, the sport fea-
tures strong teams in Division I
Rutland and Division II Otter Valley,
better prospects for Fair Haven and a
new coach in Springfield in Stephen
Lawrence.
What follows are brief preseason
glimpses of the four teams.
Otter Valley
Stacey Edmunds enters her eighth
season as Otter Valley head coach with
a crew of 20 players highlighted by a
nice blend of veterans and youngsters.
Edmunds will rely on a core group
of five seniors spread from the forward
line back to goalie Ellie Ross. But it’s
the seven incoming freshmen that
has Edmunds excited. They come
equipped with skills and lots of speed.
“We have a blend of experience,
skill and speed in our favor,” Edmunds
said. “We have an opportunity with
some veteran players, who have a
knowledge of the field, of the game
and leadership, to help the younger
players.”
The group of Otter seniors who
will provide direction and instill con-
fidence include tri-captains Alia Ed-
munds, Livia Bernhardt and Isabella
Falco. Edmunds is an attacker on the
forward line who has led the Otters in
scoring the past couple of years. Falco
is a tireless midfielder who can also
swing to the forward line, while Bern-
hardt solidifies the defense at center
back. Then there is Ross, a three-year
starter in goal, who is a quick and
athletic, a shut-down keeper. Another
key senior player is forward Morgan
LaPorte at wing.
Adding more experience to the
PHOTO BY JON OLENDER
Rutland High School’s Hannah Solimano (20, center) battles for possession of the ball
during Thursday’s matchup at home with Fair Haven Union High School. Fair Haven’s
senior goalie Jordyn Howard (41) is at left.
defensive backfield are junior Jadynn
Pope and sophomore Marissa Con-
nors. Other sophomores who had an
impact as freshmen last fall include: Ja-
mie Dube-Bordman who swings from
midfield to back; Brittney Jackson on
the forward line; Madison Colburn
and Josie LaPorte on defense; Alice
Keith at midfield and cousin Rylie
Keith at midfield/forward line.
Then there is the freshman group
that is eager to make a mark and
bolster the Otter team that includes:
MacKenzie Dick; Sydney Gallo; Taylor
Lampman; Ryleigh LaPorte; MacKen-
zie McKay; Casey Sue Thompson and
Abigail Adamsen.
Edmunds hasn’t penciled the fresh-
men into specific positions but as
practices and scrimmages continue,
she will assess where they can help the
team best.
“So far what I’m seeing from this
group is that they are quick, have a
level of skills and speed,” Edmunds
said. “I’m quite optimistic about their
future.”
Speed is a key component with
which OV is blessed, and the way the
Otters like to attack down the field
and the presence of that speed has
thrilled Edmunds. “It’s exciting,” she
said.
The Otters don’t open until the
Saturday after Labor Day (hosting
Brattleboro) so there is time to get
everyone acclimated and on the same
page. Edmunds said the Otters will
take part in the Mount Abraham Play
Day on Saturday and will scrimmage
the following week.
Rutland
With 44 girls out, including 10 of 13
returning players from the senior class
and six or seven girls who started last
fall, Karen Poljacik has plenty of talent
to work with in forming the 2019 Raid-
er team.
Poljacik plans to have at least 20
girls each on her varsity and JV teams,
which means that there will be a deep
bench and lots of subbing going on.
“There is so much running in a
game like field hockey, you need to
take them out — even if it’s just for
a little while — to give them a rest,”
Poljacik said. “It’s beneficial, so a deep
bench is really a nice thing to have.”
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Poljacik has got veteran players from
the forward line through the midfield
and defensive backfield to the goalie.
She hopes to build a strong and
competitive team around a core group
of girls.
The Sunderland sisters, Katie, a se-
nior, and junior Jenna, will key the for-
ward line. Both girls are strong, skilled,
aggressive and fast.
Senior Stephanie Allen will be head-
ing up a solid group in the midfield.
Swinging from midfield to defense is
another senior in Haley Lassen. Lea
Zmurko is yet another senior, who will
buttress the defense fronting junior
goalie Jessica Ebbighausen, who start-
ed and played a full season in goal for
the Raiders last fall.
“It’s kind of scary with just one goal-
ie,” Poljacik said, as the Raiders gener-
ally have employed at least two goalies
in recent years. “I’m excited as she
will have two full years of experience
in goal. But you always worry what
happens if she gets hurt, so we have
to keep her healthy, but I think she’ll
have a great year.”
Another thing that is scary about the
Raiders is that there is speed all over
Continued on Page 5