Date: Fri 13-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Field-Hockey

Full Text:

Field Hockey Preview - 1996

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

On a cold day in October of 1994, right after the Newtown High School field

hockey team had crossed the t's and dotted the i's on what turned out to be a

dismal 0-12-3 season, many of the players left looking two or three years into

the future vowed to improve, to ameliorate themselves and become a little more

than a team with good spirit and good heart.

They vowed to become a team of good skill.

A strong team.

In 1995, after running a two-year-old losing streak to 22 games, the Lady

Nighthawks (then the Lady Indians) have started mending their wounds left

behind with years of losing and a 3-9-3 record might not be kind of success

other teams would be willing to hang their sticks on at the end of a season,

but for the Lady Nighthawks it was a step towards a more convenient and

enviable position.

And the work continues in 1996 . . . maybe a little easier, too, at least at

first. The Lady Nighthawks were 2-0-2 against their first two opponents on the

1996 schedule - Bethel and Masuk - and scored nearly half their goals (7 of

16) in those four games.

" I would hope we can take that next step, " said coach Lisa Poirier, in her

fourth year. " Starting off with Bethel and Masuk, teams we can be competitive

with, will help. Starting off with a win or a couple wins will make a big

difference. "

Of the 16 goals the Lady Nighthawks scored in 1995, 11 of those left with the

graduation of four players. Melissa Araya led the team last year with five

markers, while Katie Zimmerman had four. Krista Halstead and Meg Smialowski

had one each.

But the Lady Nighthawks do return Alicia Wickson, a co-captain, who scored

three times last year. Bolstering her offense with that of Carrie Disette and

Krista Bell, among others, the Lady Nighthawks hope to muster some scoring

punch. " We have some strong returning platers and some good experience, "

said coach Poirier, " but I'm looking to fill some spots on the forward line

and looking, hopefully, for some scoring. "

The defense, which lost fullback Christina Donigian and midfielder Brooke

Steiwing, nevertheless remains strengthened with the return of co-captain Liz

Glaser. With last year's starting goaltender, Jill Swiatowicz, pursuing other

activities, Erica Christopher has gotten the nod as the Lady Nighthawks'

keeper and coach Poirier is thrilled with her performance.

Also returning to the fold will be Amanda Giannini, Evin Liljengren, Michele

Dohrenwend, Lauren Cross and Beth McCaffrey - those leading an amazingly large

team of 63 players.

" We're going to go with it and see how each day goes, " said coach Poirier. "

We want to stay competitive and win some games. "

Schedule

All home games are held at the field hockey pitch behind the high school. All

games will begin at 3:30 pm.

SEPT 13, Bethel; 16, MASUK; 18, at New Milford; 24, BROOKFIELD, 26, at Joel

Barlow; 30, NEW FAIRFIELD.

OCT 2, at Weston; 8, IMMACULATE; 10, at Pomperaug; 16, BETHEL; 18, at Masuk;

21, NEW MILFORD; 23, at Brookfield.