New coach ‘had a blast’
by John Beisser, Sports Writer
”Had a blast.”
These are the three words Lyndsay Samenfeld chose when asked to describe her first season as Hillsborough High’s head varsity field hockey coach. Ably assisted by loyal assistant coaches April Croman, who coached the jayvee team, as well as freshman coach Brian Caudill, the Raider varsity team achieved a more than respectable 8-10-1 record vs. an extremely demanding schedule.
Narrowly missing the NJSIAA Tournament by one game was a bit of a disappointment for sure but, on balance, the positives far outweighed any negatives, especially considering the unique and challenging beginning to the season that saw former head coach Peach Draper resign on the eve of the season opener.
On the field, Samenfeld received terrific leadership from captains Danielle Czysz and Victoria Wilson, in addition to her two other seniors, Jennifer LaPlaca and Melissa Sargiotto.
”Overall, things went better than I could have even hoped for and that’s a tribute to our girls and our seniors, in particular. We have great girls in our program who come from great backgrounds, who are so supportive of each other,” she added. “Every game, home and away, we had a huge fan section, which was nice. The parents are all so supportive of their daughters, which is so great.”
The versatile Czysz was a team leader on and off the field and finished third on the squad in assists with five from her midfield position. Wilson was the team’s second-leading scorer with eight goals from her forward spot, while LaPlaca was a valuable forward as well. Sargiotto, the fourth graduating senior, played the last three games in goal and allowed just three goals in helping to the lead the Raiders to season-ending wins over Franklin (5-1) and Montgomery (3-2) as Hillsborough completed the season on a high note.
Samenfeld is excited about the solid nucleus that will return next season for the Raiders. Rising senior Kelsey Palmer, who led Hillsborough with 12 goals, will be a mainstay for the 2008 team as will classmate Melissa Warn, who found the cage six times this season, which was the third-highest total on the team. In addition to returning their first and third-leading goal scorers in Palmer and Warn, the Raiders will also return their two assist leaders in rising senior Dorian Gilmartin-Dzitko (eight) and Palmer, who set up six goals with assists.
Danielle Deretchin, who will be a junior next season, was rock-solid in goal and figures to be better still in 2008. Deretchin recorded a whopping 217 saves this season. All told, Hillsborough will feature a roster next season that will include 12 seniors after the Raiders’ 2007 team had four seniors, 12 juniors and two sophomores.
With 12 seniors graduating following the 2008 season, Samenfeld is well aware that she will need to have some capable reinforcements waiting in the wings as she grows the program into 2009 and beyond. Towards that end, Samenfeld is looking to take a page out of a blueprint that has been so successful for many soccer programs in the region.
Unlike soccer, which is the ultimate travel club team sport, opportunities for high school field hockey players to hone their skills in the off-season are not as plentiful. And many of the opportunities that do exist, are expensive options.
Working closely with the Hillsborough Recreation Department, Samenfeld is in the process of establishing a summer league that will give youngsters as young as the fifth and sixth grade an affordable opportunity to play improve their field hockey skills. Samenfeld is planning to run a one-week field hockey camp, followed by a four to five week league schedule where Hillsborough residents will have a chance to play two games per week.
”We’ll see what we get as far as turnout,” she said. “I’d like to run this program in late June into early July. It is critical that we establish a feeder program where girls can train and work on their games. For those who cannot be a part of the league, I am encouraging them to play other sports and get into as good a shape as they can by working out on their own.”
Samenfeld knows this formula can be a success, since she grew up in a similar program at Voorhees High School. Samenfeld looks forward to the day when young girls in Hillsborough are consistently exposed to the sport at an early age, fostering a climate where they dream of one day wearing the maroon and gold of the Raider varsity team.
If the jayvee team’s recently completed 11-3-4 season is any indication, the immediate future looks bright as well. Katelyn Sheridan was the jayvee team’s leading scorer, followed by Kelly Bloom and Bethany Warn, who tallied six and five goals, respectively. Laura Blum was outstanding in goal, recording 97 saves.