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Avon looks to reload, Canton seeks to improve in 2013

Avon's Caroline Schaefer battles a Hand defender in Monday's Class M quarterfinal game in Avon. The Falcons prevailed, 2-1.

Avon’s Caroline Schaefer battles a Hand defender in last year’s Class M quarterfinals in Avon. The Falcons won, 2-1.

There have been some good times for the Avon High field hockey team the past three seasons. The Falcons went to the Class M semifinals twice, won 41 games and captured back-to-back NCCC championships in 2012 and 2013. 

Ten seniors graduated from last year’s team that went 13-3-3 and won the NCCC championship with a 10-0-2 record. All-State defender and midfielder Mary Margaret Stoll graduated along with All-NCCC forward Maddy Riccardi and defender Alana Puling. Goalie Nicole Andrews (nine shutouts) also graduated. 

But there are still some recognizable faces on the Falcons this fall. Nine seniors are back including regional All-American midfielder Caroline Schaefer, defenders Marissa Grillo and Kelsey Burton and midfielder Sarah Kate Mascoli. 

Schaefer didn’t score a lot last season but had plenty of assists. She helped jumpstart the Avon attack and will be looked upon to do that again this season. “She is a competitor and a natural athlete,” Ziemnicki said. “She never likes to lose. She has an intense competitive drive.” 

Avon will be challenged in the NCCC by Granby, Suffield and Stafford, which finished a surprising second last year. The Falcons also have non-league games with Glastonbury, Simsbury, Hall and Stonington to help get prepared for the Class M tournament. 

“There are opportunities for new players to step up and contribute,” long-time coach Terri Ziemnicki said. “ 

The season opens on Monday, Sept. 16 when the Falcons host Canton at 3:45 p.m. Avon has three night games on the schedule this season. The Falcons will host Suffield on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the high school and will play two road games under the lights at Suffield on Oct. 1 and at Simsbury on Oct. 30. 

CANTON (2-11, 2-10 NCCC) is looking for its first winning season since 2008 under first-year coach Margaret Bristol. She replaces Brian Roy, the school’s baseball coach who stepped in late last summer to fill an open spot. But he has taken another job so he can’t make the time to coach the team. 

Bristol has been teaching in Canton for eight years and she currently teaches at Canton High and at the middle school. She played field hockey at Farmington High under long-time coach Lorene McLaughlin and played a year at Springfield College. 

The Warriors are young and will be looking to score more goals. A year ago, Canton scored just nine goals and allowed 33. Kaelyn Oliver led the team with three goals including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Enfield. Oliver is back along with midfielder Lindsay Milligan and defender Kylie Delos. 

AVON
Coach: Terri Ziemnicki, 25th season (288-94-42-6)
Last year: 13-3-3, 10-0-2 NCCC (1st), Lost Class M semifinals to Wilton, 2-1
Key losses: Ten seniors including All-NCCC Maddy Riccardi, Mary Margaret Stoll and Alana Puling. Stoll earned All-State honors at defender/midfield while Riccardi earned All-State 2nd team honors at forward.
Top players: Regional All-American midfielder Caroline Schaefer, D Marissa Grillo, D Kelsey Burton, M Sarah Katherine Mascoli
Outlook: Led by Schaefer, Avon has several veterans returning but there are plenty of spots for underclassmen to make a difference on this year’s team. The Falcons should be a contender in the league with Granby and Stafford.
Of note: Schaefer was named to the Southern New England regional team by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association 

CANTON
Coach: Margaret Bristol, 1st year
Last year: 2-11, 2-10 NCCC
Key losses: Midfielder Leigh Fitzgerald
Top players: Forward Kaelyn Oliver (3 goals), midfielder Lindsay Milligan, defender Kylie Delos
Outlook: Canton scored just nine goals a year ago and allowed 33. They’ll have to improve on that. But Bristol, who played at Farmington High under Lorene McLaughlin and at Springfield College, is optimistic. The Warriors are working well together. Bristol has been teaching in Canton for eight years.
Of note: Canton has gone four seasons without a winning record – the longest drought in team history. The Warriors last made the Class S tournament in 2010. … Assistant coach Jen Peterson, who played four years at Canton, returns for the second year.

 

 

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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