Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Report, I'm Keith Harrington
A Lot to Look Forward to in the 2022 Field Hockey Season
Field Hockey is a sport that has been struggling to hang on locally in recent years. Girl's soccer and volleyball have grown in popularity, making it a challenge for some schools in the Border Country area to muster up the numbers to have a field hockey team. North Warren who once was a powerhouse moved to soccer a couple of years ago and others struggle with low numbers.
Even with that being said, it's not all doom and gloom. There is a lot to look forward to locally in the 2022 high school field hockey season.
First of all, Hoosick Falls and Granville are likely to battle once again for the Adirondack-Wasaren League crown. The Golden Horde and Panthers shared the title in 2020. Hoosick Falls won the first meeting 4-0, with Granville winning the dramatic rematch 1-0 in OT off a corner with no time left on the clock.
Last season the Panthers swept the Golden Horde 6-0 and 4-3 in overtime during the regular season. It was the only two league losses for Granville. Hoosick Falls also elmiinated the Golden Horde in the sectionals 2-0. The Panthers went on to win the sectional title, the regional crown before falling 6-1 to Whitney Point in the state championship game.
Granville was a young team a year ago but should be much more experienced this season. The Golden Horde should return plenty of firepower with Raegan Swain, Haylie Barber and Melissa Beaver. Swain was an Adirondack-Wasaren League First Team all-star last season. Barber was named to the league second team.
Goalie Megan Decker did an outstanding job replacing all-stater Lexyss Zovistoski last season and should be among the league's best. Natalie Williams, Lauren Bascom, Catherine Gould and Ashley Pratt among others are also expected to be among the veteran returners.
Hoosick Falls will have to replace goalie Marissa Landry but lost only two other seniors. Emma McCart returns for her senior campaign. McCart scored an incredible 45 goals in 2021 to lead the Panthers to a 20-2 mark.
Adirondack-Wasaren League all-stars Gwyn Vincent and MacKenna Roberson also return for Hoosick Falls. Ava Kasulinous, Tatum Hickey and Kamryn Friel should also be key factors.
Salem-Cambridge should also not be discounted in the league race. The Generals were very young last year and will be loaded with returning players. Salem-Cambridge fell to Granville three times last year, all in very close matches. The Golden Horde nipped Salem-Cambridge 2-1 and 1-0 during the season and 1-0 in overtime in the sectionals.
Salem-Cambridge returns all-state selection Mary Kate McPhee who will be one of the top players in Section II. Taylor Cary and Lexy Cary also had strong seasons last year, earning Adirondack-Wasaren League all-star status. Goalie Brailyn Wright is eligible to return along with Claire Toleman, Alyce Harrington and Kyle Austin among others.
Greenwich and Corinth were rebuilding last year but given there history should both improve this season.
Across the border Fair Haven is a program on the rise. After struggling for a few seasons the Slaters showed huge improvement in 2021.
Fair Haven's most significant victory came in a 2-1 shocker over perennial power Windsor. Coach Allison Resnick has the program trending upwards after a trip to the state semifinals last fall.
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With the Border Country Sports Report, I'm Keith Harrington.
Photo Credit-Stacie Arnhold
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