By Jennifer Small, Source Sports Editor:
For six straight years, the seniors of the Haddam-Killingworth High
School field hockey team have capped their season
with the Shoreline Conference title. This year was no different as the
Cougars—led by senior captains Shelby VanHuysen, Lindsey Griswold, and Lindsay
Gorman, along with fellow senior Danielle Page—earned a 9-1 record in the
Shoreline Conference and an 11-5-1-1 overall record.
“We played above expectations this whole season,” said Coach
Patsy Kamercia.
HK’s regular-season record of 10-4-1-1 earned the team the
seventh seed in the Class S State Tournament. The Cougars topped 10th-seeded
Thomaston in the first round to advance to the quarterfinals where they were
pitted against No. 2 seed Lewis Mills, who owned a 13-0-3 regular-season
record. HK was one goal away from spoiling Lewis Mills’s undefeated streak, but
Lewis Mills came out on top in overtime for the 2-1 win before falling in the
semifinals to No. 3 seed New Fairfield, which won the Class S title.
The seniors not only led the team throughout the season but
collected their fair share of postseason accolades as well. VanHuysen earned
MVP honors and Best Defensive Player along with First Team All-Shoreline, First
Team All-State, All-State Scholar Athlete, and Senior All-Star Game Player.
Griswold joined VanHuysen with First Team All-Shoreline
honors along with MaryKate Murray, while Griswold was also named Best Offensive
Player, First Team All-State and Senior All-Star Game Player.
Gorman was awarded HK’s Most Versatile Player while Page
earned Most Improved Player and a spot on the All-Shoreline Second Team next to
Emily Anderson.
In addition to Murray and Anderson, a handful of returning
Cougars nabbed Honorable Mention All-Shoreline nods—Marina Annino, Ashley
Scully, Amanda Johannas, and Carley Mooney—which bodes well for the program’s
future and quest for the seventh straight Shoreline title.
“We have a great outlook for next year,” said Kamercia.
Pictured: Shelby
VanHuysen led the HK field hockey team as a captain and earned numerous
accolades for her efforts.
Photo by Nancy Dionne