Sheamus Dalton
Sports Editor
The Wooster field hockey team may not be the most experienced in the NCAC, but after this past weekend’s 5-0 victory over Bethany College, it is clear that they intend to play like veterans in the upcoming season.
Last year, the Scots graduated eight seniors, which left a major rift in the team both offensively and defensively, making it necessary for the Scots to look far and wide to fill empty spots for the upcoming season.
“This is a very young team compared to the team with eight seniors last year,” said Nikki Sever ’14, one of the Scots returning team leaders. “With this year’s team many players have an opportunity to get more playing time and show what they can do. In our first weekend they have proven to step up to the challenge.”
And step up to the challenge they did. In their first two games, a close loss to Wesley College 4-2 and a 5-0 hammering of Bethany, the Scots have been led in scoring by twins Kerry O’Connor ’17 and Kayla O’Connor ’17, who have had three goals apiece.
Along with the immediate success of the twins, the team can be very confident in the ability and potential contributions of their three additional first-years Laura Hummer, Leah Prescott and Sarah McGrath.
First-years always add energy and new talent to a team, but in order for the Scots to continue their 19-year streak of NCAC tournament berths, they will need the foundation that their experienced upperclassmen will bring to the field.
Sever and Rey are two of the team’s key returning players. Given their combined experience in both attacking and defending, Sever and Rey are poised to lead the Scots to great success this season.
Sever, an all-conference and all-region selection who also finished second in NCAA Div. III field hockey with 19 assists, will be the Scot’s player to watch. She will be surrounded by forwards Taylor Thorp ’15, Edie Anderson ’14 and Megan McGinley ’15 as the Scots look forward to an offensive minded season.
“This team’s composition also has a lot of offense, which we hope to utilize for scoring,” said Rey and Sever.
In the back, the team will be lead by none other than Rey, with Angela Galimberti ’16 returning as a starter. The defense will be in good hands between the two as Rey has been an NCAC all conference selection three times, as well as an all region selection. Galimberti and Rey will be joined by Shelby Goldman ’15 and Tess Langrill-Miles ’16 to bolster a skillful and veteran defensive group that allowed no more than one goal per game in nine games last season.
Finally, what team would be complete without a solid goalkeeper bringing up the rear? The Scots have such a player in Carrie Mount ’15, who took the spot partway through the season, replacing an injured starter. In the 17 games she played last season, Mount amassed an impressive 75 saves and a 1.68 goal per game average.
As with every year, the Scots will look to finish top four in the NCAC and continue on to the NCAA tournament after a conference title. This tight knit squad will utilize their “youthful experience” in both their young talent and veteran strength as they look forward to another successful season.