The top returning Vermont high school field hockey players? Here's our 2023 watchlist.
The time has come for our field hockey watchlist.
After Champlain Valley, Woodstock and Montpelier scored championships last fall, they will be put to the test to defend their titles against the field. As our annual tradition, we highlight the top returning field hockey players in the state.
The season begins in earnest on Friday, Sept. 1. For all of the Free Press' fall high school sports coverage, see what to expect from us at burlingtonfreepress.com.
After conversations, texts and email messages with coaches and media colleagues throughout Vermont, here are the state's top returning field hockey players. All told, 42 players are named to our preseason watchlist.
Enjoy!
Football: The top returning Vermont high school football players? Our 2023 watchlist.
Girls soccer: The top returning Vermont high school girls soccer players? Our 2023 watchlist.
Boys soccer: The top returning Vermont high school boys soccer players? Our 2023 watchlist.
2023 Free Press field hockey watchlist
Mary Ann Nunn
► School: Rice
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Secured one goal for the Green Knights from the back line last fall.
Hawa Awayle
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Landed on the BFP all-state second team last fall.
Sawyer Bailey
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: The junior forward was a key returnee for the Wolves last year and made the Metro Division coaches' second team
Madison Barwood
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Led a potent Hartford attack to a D-II championship appearance and made the BFP honorable-mention team.
Emma Bazin
► School: Bellows Falls
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Started for the powerhouse Terriers and was a BFP second-team pick.
Natalie Beauregard
► School: U-32
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Scored 11 goals and had 18 assists to earn a spot on BFP's honorable-mention team.
Leah Boyd
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield/defense
►2022 season: Boyd was a key newcomer for six-win Colchester last fall.
Jemma Brinker
► School: Essex
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Key newcomer for Essex, who earned an honorable mention all-state selection.
Brianna Brownell
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Was a coaches' all-state second team pick for the four-win Cougars.
Sabrina Brunet
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Brunet finished with 15 goals and five assists last year to make the BFP all-state first team.
Lily Case
► School: Mount Abraham
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Earned a honorable mention selection from the Metro coaches.
Violet Clough
► School: Rice
► Class year: Freshman
► Position: Midfielder
►2022 season: This fall will be Clough's first season with Rice.
Lila Cook-Yoder
► School: Middlebury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Earned a spot on the Metro coaches' first team all-state.
Emma Cosgrove
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Goalie
►2022 season: Starting netminder last year and earned an honorable mention pick from the league's coaches.
Kaelin Downey
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: The four-year varsity starter scored two goals and had 11 assists to earn a spot on BFP's all-state honorable mention team.
Emily Gay
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Scored five goals and had two helpers for the defending D-I champions.
Bailey Gilliam
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Gilliam is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs' defense.
Marissa Groleau
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Earned second-team honors from the Metro coaches.
Hannah Gubbins
► School: Woodstock
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Gubbins scored 18 goals and had 15 assists to lead Woodstock to the Division II title. The senior was a BFP first-team all-state selection last fall.
Jaylena Haley
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Honorable-mention selection in the Southern Vermont League 'B' Division.
Emilee Higgins
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: First team selection in the SVL 'B' Division.
Zoe Hilferty
► School: U-32
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Held teams to just six goals against by controlling midfield play.
Reece Holcomb
► School: Essex
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: A key newcomer for the semifinalist Hornets.
Greta Jennison
► School: Mount Abraham
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Goalie
►2022 season: Made Metro coaches' second team last fall.
Kamryn Jillson
► School: Woodstock
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Started last year for the Woodstock backline.
Kayla Kim
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Made the Metro coaches' second team.
Elise Knoth
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Factored into the Wolves' attack last year.
Ava LaRoss
► School: Bellows Falls
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Returns after garnering an honorable mention pick by the SVL coaches.
Maris LaPerle
► School: Mount Abraham
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Saw playing time as a freshman with the Eagles.
Ava Lipson
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield/forward
►2022 season: Was a key newcomer for the Laker varsity team last fall.
Claire Marcoe
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Amassed a 14-goal, two-assist junior campaign for the Redhawks.
Fiona McHugh
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Made the Metro Division coaches' second team last fall.
Nora Moody
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Started last year for the Seahorses and will see a larger role this fall.
Lily Morgan
► School: Otter Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Goalie
►2022 season: The mainstay in net for the Otters made the coaches' honorable-mention team last year.
Charlee Olio
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Was a key returnee for the Hornets last year and earned an honorable mention pick from the Metro coaches.
Ava Robare
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Earned an honorable-mention selection in the Metro.
Allison Roy
► School: Rice
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Roy made the BFP all-state honorable mention team last fall.
Lauren Soulia
► School: Essex
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Defense
►2022 season: Saw time on the backline for the Hornets.
Cordelia Thomas
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Midfield
►2022 season: Tallied one goal and two assists as a freshman.
Paige Vielleux
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Goalie
►2022 season: Made the BFP all-state honorable mention team a sophomore netminder.
Hailey Warren
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Midfield/defense
►2022 season: Was a starter for the Cougars last year and steps into a leadership role this fall.
Madison Willey
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
►2022 season: Earned a spot on the SVL coaches' honorable mention squad.
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: Vermont H.S. field hockey: Players to watch for the 2023 season
