The 29th Annual Free Press All-State Field Hockey Team
Picking the 29th edition of the Free Press All-State Field Hockey Team was, as ever, a demanding and a subjective task, but something we approach with great pride and care.
By taking into account available statistics, feedback from coaches around the state, input from other media outlets and our own expertise, we laid out who we think are the very best: A first team full of players any team would covet, a second team and honorable-mention listing full of even more.
South Burlington senior Sabrina Brunet is the Free Press player of the year for 2023 after leading the Wolves to a 16-1 record and the Division I title. In total, 36 players are honored — a tough list to crack but one that has stood for 29 years as Vermont's true All-State team.
* * * *
THE FIRST TEAM
SABRINA BRUNET
South Burlington High School
Senior, midfield
► Player of the year
•The player: The Free Press' Player of the Year steered the Wolves to their second title in three years. After dominating on the forward line in previous seasons, Brunet flipped to the midfield and dictated pace for South Burlington. Despite the switch, Burnet still managed seven goals and seven assists. "She was critical to both our defensive and offensive penalty corners," South Burlington coach Anjie Soucy said. "She has the vision, game sense, speed and stick skills to transition the ball from our defensive end to the forward line. Even with the move to midfield, she was the third leading scorer on the team, which is a tribute to her ability as a complete player."
•Trophy case: BFP player of the year 2023; BFP first team 2023, BFP first team 2022. Metro Division first team 2023; first team 2022; honorable mention 2021.
SAWYER BAILEY
South Burlington High School
Junior, forward
•The player: South Burlington's left wing was crucial in delivering the Wolves their 12th all-time championship with the breakaway winning score just minutes into overtime against Rice. This fall the junior had 12 goals and four assists to make her first appearance on the BFP all-state team. "Sawyer has amazing stick work and can possess the ball for tremendous distances on the left wing to get us in position to create offensive opportunities," South Burlington coach Anjie Soucy said. "Her ability to finish in front of the net is also a notable aspect of her game. She is a natural forward, who is difficult to stop."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022; honorable mention 2021.
HANNAH GUBBINS
Woodstock Union High School
Senior, forward
•The player: Woodstock's premier forward earns another stop on the Free Press first team after guiding the Wasps to a second straight championship appearance. Gubbins tallied 25 goals and 11 assists this fall and will play at St. Lawrence University next year. "Hannah was a true asset to our team this season," Woodstock coach Leanne Tapley said. "Hannah has been amping our top scorers for the last few years. She was the captain of our team and a leader on and off the field."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023, BFP first team 2022. SVL 'B' Division first team 2023, SVL 'B' Division first team 2022.
ELLA MAYNARD
South Burlington High School
Senior, forward
•The player: Maynard's scoring potency led South Burlington, which averaged nearly four goals a game, after piling up a stunning 17 goals and three assists in the Metro Division. "Ella is a tenacious forward who has the speed and stick work to maneuver in tight spaces in the attacking circle as well as eliminate opponents with ease in open space on breakaways," South Burlington coach Anjie Soucy said. "She has great instincts and knows how to position herself to capitalize on opportunities in front of the net. Her determination led our offense in so many ways this fall."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; honorable mention 2022.
MADISON WILLEY
Hartford High School
Senior, forward
•The player: After back-to-back championship losses, the Hurricanes finally broke through with a 2-0 triumph over Woodstock in the D-II championship. Willey, who also made the Twin State roster, had 12 goals and 11 assists in the regular season.
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. SVL 'A' Division first team 2023; honorable mention 2022; first team 2021.
VIOLET CLOUGH
Rice Memorial High School
Freshman, midfield
•The player: Clough's powerful strikes were apparent from the start this season and as the Green Knights' main offensive option the freshman scored 15 goals and dished out eight assists. "Violet has really elevated the level of play here in Vermont," Rice coach Kelly McClintock said. "She is a workhorse who is constantly pushing the pace of play to better herself and the team. Her impressive elimination skills, killer low block tackles and aerials mixed with her incredible character, passion and grit makes her a force to be reckoned with."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023.
KAYLA KIM
South Burlington High School
Junior, midfield
•The player: Kim, who managed two assists in her second season with the Wolves, became a crucial aspect of South Burlington's defensive penalty corners. The midfielder often started the offensive with her advanced stick skills from the left side. "Her ability to read and anticipate her opponents allows her to disrupt the flow of other teams and provide us with offensive opportunities," South Burlington coach Anjie Soucy said. "She is a dominant midfielder."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
CORDELIA THOMAS
Champlain Valley Union High School
Sophomore, midfield
•The player: Thomas' play in the center midfield led to many of Champlain Valley's goal-scoring opportunities even if she was not a top scorer. Even then, the second-year standout managed a goal and eight assists in Hinesburg this season. "Cordelia's strengths are her distribution to teammates into the circle and transferring the ball to change the point of attack," CVU coach Tucker Pierson said. "Her ability to eliminate defenders while seeing the next play is key to our offensive attack."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
HAWA AWAYLE
Burlington High School
Senior, defense
•The player: Awayle graduates from the Seahorse program as the Metro Division player of the year. The senior improved each year on the back line for Burlington as a three-year starter. "Hawa is a dynamic defender who shows tremendous pose and skill with the ball," Burlington coach Allyson Archacki said. "She is able to navigate with control and purpose on the field."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023; second team 2022. Metro Division first team 2023; 2023 Metro Division player of the year; first team 2022; honorable mention 2021.
MARYANN NUNN
Rice Memorial High School
Sophomore, defense
•The player: The Green Knights increased their win total by seven this year, in part to eight shutouts. Nunn, who also scored four goals and had five assists established herself as an elite defender for the D-I runner-up. "MaryAnn is the full package: She is strong, skilled, composed, hardworking, smart and dependable," Rice coach Kelly McClintock said. "She has incredible patience on defense, showing great timing of when to lay down a strong block tackle to then carry it out. She has smooth, clean tackles that will leave you mesmerized."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
MOLLY MCGIBNEY
Rice Memorial High School
Freshman, goalie
•The player: The Green Knights didn't pull out the championship win, but McGibney's play gave Rice a chance after making nine stops. The freshman faced 10 penalty corners in the finals and finished the season with a 84% save percentage with eight shutouts. "She is not afraid to take command and is constantly communicating with her defense in a positive and productive way," Rice coach Kelly McClintock said. "Molly loves to be challenged, she thrives the harder it gets. During practice she would go all out for every single play, which made our forward line so much stronger because they had to work extremely hard to get it by."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Metro Division first team 2023.
THE SECOND TEAM
Madison Barwood
School: Hartford
Position: Forward
Class year: Junior
Emma Bazin
School: Bellows Falls
Position: Forward
Class year: Junior
Natalie Beauregard
School: U-32
Position: Forward
Class year: Senior
Elise Knoth
School: South Burlington
Position: Forward
Class year: Junior
Fiona McHugh
School: Colchester
Position: Forward
Class year: Junior
Brianna Brownell
School: Mount Mansfield
Position: Midfield
Class year: Senior
Kaelin Downey
School: Burr and Burton
Position: Midfield
Class year: Senior
Alex Wemple
School: Champlain Valley
Position: Midfield
Class year: Junior
Charlee Olio
School: Essex
Position: Defense
Class year: Senior
Oli Roy
School: South Burlington
Position: Defense
Class year: Sophomore
Amber Rousseau
School: South Burlington
Position: Goalie
Class year: Junior
HONORABLE MENTION
Morgan Barnard, Mount Abraham senior midfield
Jemma Brinker, Essex junior forward
Hanna Coughlin, Colchester senior defense
Rosa DiGiulian, South Burlington freshman forward
Bibi Frechette, Champlain Valley junior forward
Marissa Groleau, Mount Mansfield senior defense
Greta Jennison, Mount Abraham senior goalie
Ava LaRoss, Bellows Falls senior forward
Norra Moody, Burlington senior forward
Nicole Norton, Colchester senior midfield
Sydney Perry, Windsor senior goalie
Allison Roy, Rice junior midfield
Maaika Samsom, Montpelier senior midfield
Emily Tringe, Montpelier sophomore forward
RECENT BFP ALL-STATE TEAMS
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016
RECENT COACHES' ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
Become a member of the Vermont Varsity Insider Facebook group at https://bit.ly/2MGSfvX.
Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT high school field hockey: Free Press All-State Field Hockey Team
