From The Coach To The Players, Field Hockey Team Has New Look

By Andy Hutchison

If you are an opponent of the Newtown High School field hockey team, how do you view the team you’re playing? As a squad that narrowly missed winning not one but two championships a year ago and could have the hunger to go all the way this time around? Or one that has a revamped lineup, is embarking on a rebuilding campaign and looking to make a new name for itself?

The answer is … both of the above.

Newtown, which got all the way to the finals in both the South-West Conference and Class L state tournaments, graduated ten players (eight starters) and has a new coaching staff in place for 2008.

“The whole team kind of got turned upside down,” said new Head Coach Amanda Hadgraft, who takes over for decade-plus leader Kathy Davey. “It’s pretty much a whole new lineup.”

There is, however, some continuity. Hadgraft, having played at NHS (Class of 2004) previously coached the freshman team.

“I’m very fortunate that the coach I’m taking the program over from coached me,” she said. “It definitely takes the edge off and I feel confident I can carry over what she’s done with the team.”

After a 9-2-4 regular season, the Nighthawks reached the SWC championship and earned the No. 7 seed in the Class L tourney before rolling all the way to the pinnacle game of that tourney. In other words, there a pretty big shoes to fill, but expectations remain high. The Hawks expect to succeed again in 2008.

“I really think we can go far because of the support we give each other this year,” senior captain and backfielder Jackie Isabella said.

Isabella’s fellow captains are forwards Taylor Barry and Alyssa Carey and midfield/backfield player Linda Magliocco. The junior corps includes goaltender Jessica Balsano and forward Shelly Davies. The only sophomores on the squad, forward Hannah Koch and midfielder Katie Canavan, are both varsity newcomers from whom Hadgraft expects big contributions. The coach believes offense will be the strongest suit of this team.

“Most teams know we’re going to be a pretty young team this year. We can use the youth to our advantage,” said Barry, explaining that the Nighthawks possess speed and agility.

The season was scheduled to get underway this week with a home clash against New Milford (Thursday) after the opener against Weston was washed out by rain on Tuesday. Two of the likely toughest foes, New Milford and Pomperaug, are on the schedule twice this season.

“Every year we feel the heat from Pomperaug and New Milford. Brookfield poses a good challenge as well,” Hadgraft said.

“Persistence, commitment, and teamwork,” according to Magliocco, are key ingredients the team will have find for a recipe of success this year.

“We were the underdogs last year,” said Magliocco, whose team will have to work hard to again go deep into tournament play.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. It’s definitely going to be tough,” Carey added. “We have the motivation to do well.”