Trevorrow has experience in goal
By: Justin Feil
Ally Trevorrow is used to big expectations.
"Ally comes up big in big games. She has so much potential."
So said West Windsor-Plainsboro South field hockey coach Amy Bruschi two years ago after Trevorrow made 18 saves in one of the biggest upsets in Mercer County Tournament history. Trevorrow still remembers the 1-0 win over Notre Dame that came in a two-win season, but is hoping even more special memories will be made in this, her senior, season.
"That was a pretty fun game," she said. "I really liked that game. We had a pretty good season last year. We kept getting better."
After just two wins in 2004, the Pirates rebounded to win seven games last year and have the nucleus of their team back this season, which opens at Princeton High School 4 p.m. today.
Trevorrow has been a vocal leader since she stepped into the starting goalkeeper position two years ago.
"This year," she said, "we’re pretty excited for this year. We only lost three seniors. We didn’t have many seniors last year so a lot of players have a lot of varsity experience. We feel really good about this year. We feel really strong. We’re very enthusiastic for this year."
Trevorrow is one cause for enthusiasm. She will anchor the defense that was hit hardest by graduation. WW-P South lost the three starting players from its backfield, but has a keystone building block in Trevorrow.
"We’re trying a couple different combinations of people back there," Bruschi said. "I feel confident. The kids that have stepped in have been good. They haven’t been tentative. And that’s because they have an experienced goaltender behind them. They know they have a last line of defense. She’s a real active goaltender and she’ll come out and challenge shooters. The fact she’s so confident makes the defenders in front of her more confident."
Trevorrow has always been an aggressive goalie, just as she’s always been attracted to the position. A former soccer player, she was a goalie on the soccer pitch until switching to field hockey in seventh grade. Though she changed sports, she kept her aggressive streak.
"I definitely feel like that’s been my style of goalie always," she said. "One reason I like playing goalie is I like the idea that I’m doing all the different slides and dives. A lot of other goalies are apprehensive about it. It is a little problematic."
Twice in high school, Trevorrow’s aggression has led to concussions while trying to make stops in one-on-one showdowns. She will wear a special helmet this season, not ease her style. It is opponents who more frequently will come away with headaches trying to solve the three-year starter.
The Pirates make no mystery that Trevorrow is a big key to their chances of improving on last year’s record.
"She’s really important to our season," Bruschi said. "She knows that too. She’s the kind of player that comes up big in big games. When the going gets tough, she doesn’t let in a silly goal. She plays great in big games. She knows she’s a critical part of the defense. She likes that too. She’s in charge of the defense. It helps the defense. There’s someone consistent back there. She thrives off that pressure. I think her best games are big games."
Ironically, Trevorrow might be entering this season more relaxed than any other. She is a team captain and carries the weight of bigger expectations for her and her team, but isn’t letting that faze her.
"Oddly enough, I feel a little less pressure," she said. "I know I play better under pressure so maybe I better start thinking about it. In previous years, especially being one of the younger kids on the team, I had to prove myself before."
It doesn’t take long for Trevorrow to show her ability. She attended field hockey camp this summer at Rider University, and though she missed two days due to illness, she was still one of the two all-star goalies selected from 18 goalkeeper attendees. Those accolades make her a natural leader in the cage.
"The defense in front of her is new, in that they haven’t been starters before, but a lot have played significant minutes," Bruschi said. "We count on her back there to be the leader of the defense and call the shots on what’s going on in the circle. She’s really respected by the team. They know what she says goes. We trust her back there to lead the defense."
Added Trevorrow of the emerging defense: "It’s a little tough at first. They’ve taken really well to it. Since most of them haven’t played that much defense, they’re more perceptive to what I’m telling them to do. We have a couple seniors that were the subs last year and a few juniors that have come up. They’re doing pretty well."
Today figures to be the first real test with the regular-season opener at PHS. The Pirate defense and Trevorrow are buoyed by an offense that figures to be improved over last year’s respectable production.
"What I’ve seen in this preseason, that I haven’t seen in previous years, we are scoring goals," Trevorrow said. "We do dominate most of the games we play in the scrimmages. That’s something that hasn’t always happened. It is easing up on the defense. Scoring was always one of our weaker points. I’m so glad they matured and they’ve gotten better."
It should make Trevorrow’s job a little easier as an emerging defense solidifies. She is looking forward to her final challenges. With an interest in attending art school after graduation from WW-P South, this is likely her final season of field hockey. She is happy to see three goalies in the Pirate program that could step in for her.
Following in Trevorrow’s footsteps won’t be an easy task. After two solid seasons with her being the last line of defense, the WW-P South field hockey team has big expectations for the position. They’re happy that for one more season, Ally Trevorrow is there to live up to them.

