By: Sean Moylan
One of Julie Reisig’s major strengths as Hightstown High School’s varsity field hockey head coach is her flexibility. Consequently, no matter how many players the Rams graduate each spring, she always seems to be able to reconstruct the team in the fall and transform it into a winner.
This season Hightstown has just six returning varsity players from last year’s playoff team, yet there probably won’t be a drop off in play. It’s very likely the team could be better.
"I try to make two systems (based on the current talent of the players). Once they have trust in me, they’ll do it," said Reisig, who will use whichever system is working on any given day. This means the Rams have to have their heads in the game. It also means its great to have an intelligent, humble superstar like senior captain Jessica Haughton running the show.
"Jessica (Haughton) can outrun anyone in the County. We try to build the ball out to the sides with our forwards," added Reisig, who has put together an impressive 65-49-5 record over the past six seasons (and the first two seasons were spent rebuilding the program). "I’m very attack-oriented. We work a lot on shooting in practice."
Last year Hightstown tallied 51 goals, which in the third most in the school’s history. Haughton recorded 22 of those goals to go along with 11 assists. She was the CVC runner-up in total points with 33. Her 45 goals and 72 total points are already school records. Moreover, Reisig’s coaching style readily enables offensive stars to shine, so expect more of the same from Haughton this year. Haughton’s primary partner on the forward line is Catlin Fallon, who is also a senior captain. Together they form one of the best 1-2 scoring punches in the CVC.
"They’re (Haughton and Fallon) both fast. The last few years we’ve been a good team for breakaways," noted the seventh year Hightstown head coach. Both Haughton and Fallon are excellent stick handlers as well.
Reisig likes the balance of seniors and underclassmen that she has on this current team. In fact, the moment she saw speedy freshman forward Mary Simone-Astrita run, she immediately got the idea to match her up with Haughton.
"She’s (Simone-Astrita) here because she’s being trained by Jessica Haughton," added Reisig, who recognizes the freshman’s raw talent. Sophomore Ellen Trast and senior Joanna Mackow are also skilled frontline players.
In the midfield the Rams will feature senior Jessica Martin, senior Kara Kiensicki, senior Monika Mackow, senior Crista Cummings, junior Megan Wilber, sophomore Kelly Stout and senior Allison Gilchrist. Martin is a strong center mid while Kiensicki and Stout are very versatile players.
Although she is currently nursing an injury, Krista "K-Wall" Waller, a returning varsity senior player, is expected to lead the Rams’ defense. Senior Claire Bacola is another solid returning defender.
Sophomore Emily Ladd has turned some heads with her terrific brand of defense. Sophomore Christine Johnson, senior Katrin Astrita, senior Leah Ettman and senior Sarah Simme are the other varsity Ram defenders.
"We need to work on defense," said Reisig, who doesn’t want to see any breakaways on her junior goalie Heidi Nicklaus. Nicklaus has performed exceptionally well in the team’s scrimmages.
According to Reisig, Hightstown’s younger players wondered how they would fit in with the established veterans on the team. But after just a few practices the team had already started to develop a remarkable chemistry. Reisig worked hard with her assistants Carolyn Donnelly, the junior varsity head coach, and Nichole Martin, the freshmen head coach, to make sure the team is playing at its optimum level.
"We made states fairly easily the last four years," remarked Reisig, who believes her current squad has the goods to earn another state tournament berth. "I have so many good attackers, I want to play them all."
Yet Haughton’s skill level is such that she stands alone. Furthermore, because of Haughton’s uncanny passing ability, Reisig believes she’s an even more dangerous player when she’s "marked."
Hightstown is going to get its goals, it just needs to stop other teams from scoring, which it can do.
Hightstown is schedule to host Stuart today (Friday). It is scheduled at West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Tuesday and at Nottingham on Thursday.