The Marblehead High field hockey team (7-8-3) came ever so close from ending the regular season with a winning record, but they did accomplish one of its goals, and that was to make the Division 2 state tournament, which they did. They were the 26th seed, and as a result they took on host Westwood (10-4-5), the seventh seed, in the Round of 32 on Nov. 5, where they lost, 3-0.
“At the beginning of each season, we set our goals,” said coach Alison Carey. “Last year, our goal was to make it to the postseason, which we did by qualifying for a play-in game with a winning record. This year, the goal was to make it to the postseason (outright), which meant we needed to keep ourselves competitive in the power rankings and stay in the Top 32.”
As the cliché goes, mission accomplished.
It was now onto Westwood, and Carey said of the Wolverines, “They were a smart, fast team with great field positioning. They came ready to play, scoring all three goals in the first quarter. But we then limited their scoring opportunities throughout the rest of the game.”
Carey thought Westwood “was a great opponent for us to play,” while adding, “it may sound strange for me to say that we enjoyed playing a game that we did not win, but in this case any game that includes good field hockey is something we’re going to look forward to and enjoy. Westwood was a fun one, and at the end of the day it was just a very enjoyable field hockey game (to watch).”
During the regular season, these Magicians played top Northeastern Conference clubs like Gloucester and Beverly. “We were pushed to play our best against them, and the Westwood game felt very similar to that,” said Carey. “We were competitive, but obviously the goal going into every game that we play is to win. But when it comes down to it, I care more as a coach about the kind of field hockey we’re playing, and whether the team is enjoying what they’re doing. These things are not mutually exclusive, but we can have both. We can be competitive, and still enjoy what we’re doing. Our goal is to grow as a team and perform a little better than we did the last time. That also means game by game, season by season.”
Carey praised the leadership of her captains – Keliane Salem, Hayden Mitchell, Molly Bullard and Julia Mann – “as exceptional,” while adding, “they set a structure of accountability, dedication and work ethic that I know we’ll carry forward into next year.”
Lucy Rogers, Layla Dulac, Emma Ryan, Zoe Dwyer and Ella O’Brien were the team’s top scorers this year. They were supported nicely by teammates Lea Gauvin, Lily Desgrosseilliers, Carolyn Black, Keliane Salem, Shea Bickell and Julia Mann.
All-stars announced
Elizabeth Hayes and Mann were conference all-stars, while Salem made the All-Conference team.
Carey said of Mann, “Julia, a senior, captain and midfielder, fully dedicated herself to the team this year. There is nothing that Julia wouldn’t do to help support this team. At one point, she played center forward for us, when we needed additional support at that position. She not only played an atypical position for her without hesitation; she played it intelligently with her typical drive and focus. When I need Julia to step up, I barely have to ask. She was always ready, and if she was going to do something she’s going to put everything she’s got into it.”
The Marblehead coach also offered her thoughts on Hayes, who was the team’s senior goalie. “(Hayes) was one of the most present leaders on our team, who was fully committed to the team and to this sport. Her focus and ability to read the game were huge assets for us. She was such a calm presence in net,” Carey said. “She has made Marblehead field hockey a smarter, stronger program. Next year, she will be playing the sport at Union College, and I can’t wait to cheer her on.”
Finally, Carey had plenty to say about Salem. The coach said of her, “I can’t say enough about Keliane as a player and as a person. She is a one in a million player, who played all four years on the varsity as our center midfielder. She has exceptional field hockey skills with a very high game IQ. She was just beautiful to watch on the field, and, while she plays with drive and focus, it was also clear that she simply loves the sport and has a good time on the field. She was a coach’s dream.”
The coach also added that Salem “is a highly skilled player, who was a very hard, humble worker. She was always looking to improve on her skills in order to push herself harder. She set a great example for the team, and is leaving a solid legacy here. I’m incredibly thankful for her time on this team and in this program.”
