Meet the top 17 high school field hockey players from the SouthCoast to watch in 2023
Only two of the top 12 field hockey players from the SouthCoast in 2022 are back this fall, opening the door for up-and-coming players to make a name for themselves and take bigger roles in their teams’ successes.
There are also some fresh faces on the sidelines with a pair of new head coaches at Old Rochester and Wareham this fall.
Dartmouth seniors Grace Haskell and Samanatha Souza made the Standard-Times Super Team last year and return to lead their team on its quest for a conference crown and deep tournament run.
Here’s a look at the top 17 field hockey players to watch on the SouthCoast in 2023:
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Cynthia Morales, Apponequet
The junior midfielder is a solid playmaker for the Lakers. “Cynthia is very strong,” said Apponequet head coach Cindy Cuthbertson. “She’s worked really hard. She’s a good passer. Her and Addie (Taylor) play well together with give and go’s.”
Addison Taylor, Apponequet
Taylor is a threat with and without the ball as a junior forward for the Lakers. “She has very good game sense and spacing,” Cuthbertson said. “Addie sends passes and then she moves.”
Teal Galligan, Bishop Stang
Galligan provides experience and knowledge as a four-year varsity player and senior midfielder. “She’s a year-round field hockey player,” said Bishop Stang head coach Kara Caron. “She’s so dedicated. She never misses a practice or a game. She’s super passionate about the sport and it shows on the field.”
Molly Kearney, Bishop Stang
Kearney is a standout on the field for Stang as a senior forward. “She has a really great drive in front of the net,” Caron said. “She’s also really good at getting the ball down the field.”
Sydney Plouffe, Bishop Stang
A junior forward, Plouffe has been one of Stang’s top scorers the past two years. “She’s fast and she’s very athletic,” Caron said. “She can move the ball well on the field.”
Grace Haskell, Dartmouth
The 2022 Standard-Times Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, Haskell is a force in field hockey as well and will split her time her senior year between forward and midfielder. “Grace puts in 150% in everything she does,” said Dartmouth head coach Beth Arguin. “She is a workhorse. She’s very driven to do well in everything she does. I think that shows in lacrosse too. You wish you had 12 of her. She’s got the heart and the determination and she’s willing to put in the hours to improve herself and the team.”
Samantha Souza, Dartmouth
Souza is a threat for Dartmouth as a senior forward. “Sam is a quiet leader on the field, but she also has some tremendous skill,” Arguin said. “She sneaks up on you.”
Kaelyn Zuber, Dartmouth
As a sophomore, Zuber has good vision of the field. “Kaelyn has always played above her age,” Arguin said. “She’s just a mature player who can see the field and make things happen. You don’t get that until they’re juniors or seniors and she had that last year as a freshman.” .
Carlie Francis, Fairhaven
Francis’ athleticism makes her stand out on the field hockey field for Fairhaven as a junior midfielder. “Carlie is the epitome of an athlete,” said Fairhaven head coach Amber Roderick. “She understands the skills and she understands the strategy and she can play every position. She’s good at being a leader.”
Madi Lewis, Fairhaven
A freshman forward, Lewis is already turning heads after splitting her time on JV and varsity as an eighth grader. “She plays ice hockey and lacrosse and she’s very good at translating the skills from the other sports to make it work for field hockey,” said Roderick.
Lauren Mitchell, New Bedford
A five-year player and four-year goalie, Mitchell is a force in net for the Whalers. “She has all the fundamentals,” said New Bedford head coach Kathy Rezendes. “She understands the positions. She can communicate with the defense. She’s the whole package. She’s been working hard for five years.”
Sophia Perry, New Bedford
Perry can have an impact across the field for New Bedford as a senior midfielder. “Sophia is strong in all aspects of the game,” Rezendes said. “She’s versatile. She’s in the midfield, but if I need to put her in the back to strengthen the team, I can do that.”
Murray Callahan, Old Rochester
Callahan stars for the Bulldogs as a senior forward. “She was really good at transitioning the ball from offense to defense,” said Old Rochester head coach Aislynn Quinn. “She’s a true leader with running our corners.”
Emilia Perreira, Old Rochester
As a senior forward, Perreira leads the Bulldogs on and off the field. “She’s a communicator and runs the field,” Quinn said.
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Ava Brogioli, Wareham
Brogioli is like a coach on the field for Wareham as a junior forward. “She’s a leader out there,” said Wareham head coach Chris Gardner. “She’s a solid force up the middle for us. She’s got good stick skills. She’s talking all the time and directing everything.”
Jaydn Morrell, Wareham
A senior from Bourne, Morrell will be the last line of defense for the Vikings in front of their goalie. “Jaydn brought that intensity to practice,” Gardner said. “She’s like another goalkeeper, making sure nothing gets by her. She’s solid.”
Sophia Sheey, Wareham
Sheey, a senior from Bourne, will look to have an impact on defense. “ Sophia plays lacrosse in the spring so she has good space awareness and supports her teammates on the defensive side,” Gardner said.
TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES
APPONEQUET
Head coach: Cindy Cuthbertson
Last year’s record: 3-12-3
Top returners: Jill Moura, Sr., D; Taylee Vasques, Sr., M/A; Kristina Jorge, Sr., M/HB; Cynthia Morales, Jr., M; Addie Taylor, Jr., F; Jayleigh Howarth, Jr., M; Alison Arruda, Jr., G; Brynn McLaughlin, Jr., F; Emma Lehane, Jr., F; Ava Mello, Jr., D; Jenna Braga, Jr., D/M/F; Liz Pereira, Jr., D.
Key newcomers: Gracen Branco, So., M; Grace Farrari, So., D; Emma Buckley, So., D.
Outlook: After missing out on making the playoffs last year, the Lakers are determined to make strides toward a postseason berth with a young but talented group. “So many of the games were close,” said Cuthbertson. “We had trouble scoring last year so hopefully we can turn that around. I feel like we’re better than we were last year. We have some tough competition. They’re not afraid. A lot of them played all winter. I’m encouraged by our intensity.”
BISHOP STANG
Head coach: Kara Caron
Last year’s record: 7-8-4
Top returners: Sydney Plouffe, Jr., F; Molly Kearney, Sr., F; Teal Galligan, Sr., M; Julia Caron, Sr., G; Lily Duclos, Jr., F; Kailey Araujo, Sr., D; Avery Halstead, Jr., M/F; Ellie Peterson, Jr., M; Ava Jackson, Jr., D/M.
Key newcomers: Lauren Kippe, So., D; Molly Kippe, So., F; Elise Caron, So., M/F; Ella Plouffe, So., F.
Outlook: The Spartans, who lost in the opening round of last year’s playoffs, are hoping to build on that success with a strong core of returning players that already have chemistry on and off the field. “Super great team chemistry that stood out for me,” said Caron. “Everybody gets along really well. They’re supportive of each other. I think that’s going to go a long way. This year we’re looking to score more and just take advantage of more of the opportunities we have in the offensive circle.”
DARTMOUTH
Head coach: Beth Arguin
Last year’s record: 11-2-5
Top returners: Grace Haskell, Sr., F/M; Samantha Souza, Sr., F; Kallie Rose, Sr., F; Kaelyn Zuber, So., M/D.
Key newcomers: Aubrey Carberry, Sr., M; Abigail Zariv, Jr., G; Sydney Almeida, So., F; Avery Smith, So., M; Julia Caron, Sr., D.
Outlook: With a veteran group, Dartmouth has the potential to do something big in the Southeast Conference and states. “I put on the calendar all the way to states,” said Arguin. “If we can stay healthy, we have a pretty good shot of giving everybody a run for their money. Overall I think our strength is going to be our offense between our midfielders and forwards. They’re aggressive in the circle and this group has a fire to want to score goals. If we’re going to go far, it’s going to be this year because next year will be a rebuilding.”
FAIRHAVEN
Head coach: Amber Roderick
Last year’s record: 1-15-1
Top returners: Madi Lewis, Fr., F; Carlie Francis, Jr., M; Olivia Turgeon, Sr., D; Arden Bradshaw, Sr., M; Grace Dupre, Sr., D.
Key newcomers: None
Outlook: Even though the Blue Devils are young, they have some experience and hope that last year’s growing pains will translate into wins this fall. “The fact that we have so many returners and the camaraderie is already there, I haven’t had to do a ton of team building this season,” Roderick said. “They have that hunger this year. We’re hopeful to have a good turnaround season this year.”
NEW BEDFORD
Head coach: Kathy Rezendes
Last year’s record: 7-7-5
Top returners: Sophia Perry, Sr., M; Lillian Brine, Sr., M; Lauren Mitchell, Sr., G; Kiva Bank, Sr., D; Emily DaCosta, Jr., D; Hannah Blanchard, Jr., F.
Key newcomers: Piper Reis, So., M; Jacqui Bank, So., F; Ashlynne Rysz, Jr., F; Angelii Rodriguez, Jr., D; Yaritza Belen, So., D; Peighton Sousa, Fr., D.
Outlook: Rezendes has high hopes of the Whalers making the playoffs with a hard-working and determined group. “The potential is great,” she said. “We’ve just got to continue to work hard. I know we’ll be competitive with all teams in the league. I’m really excited about moving forward through the season and watching them grow. They work well together.”
OLD ROCHESTER
Head coach: Aislynn Quinn
Last year’s record: 9-7-2
Top returners: Emilia Perreira, Sr., F; Murray Callahan, Sr., F; Lilly Cook, Jr. M; Amber Engel, Sr., M; Tessa Winslow, Jr., D; Emerson Gonet, Jr., M.
Key newcomer: Addison Roy, Fr., F.
Outlook: Quinn, a former assistant coach as UMass Dartmouth, took over at Old Rochester just before the team’s first game. “Our coaches resigned part way into the preseason and we were fortunate to get our hooks into a coach who had recently been displaced at UMass Dartmouth,” said Old Rochester athletic director Chris Carrig. Quinn played field hockey at Wareham High and Regis College and was an assistant coach at Wareham under Sue Taber for seven seasons. She spent the last four years at UMD. “I’m really excited to be here,” said Quinn, a Wareham resident. “ It was unexpected. I’m excited to add this to my career.” Quinn is looking to her seniors to lead the way this year. “They’re really strong,” said Quinn. “This has been a great transition. They’re so coachable and ready to play.” One thing that has stood out to Quinn early on is the team’s ability to score goals. “They’re offensively strong,” she said.
WAREHAM
Head coach: Chris Gardner
Last year’s record: 6-11-1
Top returners: Ava Brogioli, Jr., F; Emily Kilili, Sr., D; Jayla Fernandes, Jr., M.
Key newcomers: Sophia Sheey, Sr., D; Jaydn Morrell, Sr., D; Zoey Cardinal, Sr., G.
Outlook: Wareham welcomed the addition of four Bourne players as part of a last-minute co-op approved by the MIAA at the start of the season. “Bourne’s team got canceled,” said Gardner, who has stepped in to coach with Molly Kosboski on maternity leave. “I’ve never coached field hockey before. My only experience was watching my track girls play. I did some studying over the summer and I’ve tried to incorporate stuff from my background.” Gardner has liked what he’s seen so far. “Our strength is our defense and our offense is coming along,” he said. “I think we can definitely win some games.”
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Watch List for top high school field hockey players SouthCoast
