BY: Sean Moylan Sports Writer
Last season the Florence Township Memorial High girls’ varsity field hockey team featured one of its youngest teams to date and still made the state tournament.
The Flashes also had one of their most athletic field hockey teams in years. They also had a very skilled and experience goalie in all-star Kate Dmitruck, who is back for her senior season. Over the last few years only the best of shots on goal have gotten past Dmitruck, who has been one of the best goalies in the Freedom Division ever since she started playing varsity field hockey.
Katie Schreck (forward), Megan Weiser (back) and Erin Sweeney (multiple positions) are the other seniors on the club. Florence also has two excellent returning junior scorers in Emily Million (a midfielder) and Brittany Hiros (a forward). Juniors Erin Stockhaus (back), Molly Fitzpatrick (back) and Kate Daley (goalie/back) are solid players as well.
Last season Florence head varsity field hockey coach Gina Smith played more freshmen than ever before. Therefore, on average, Florence’s sophomores have more varsity experience than anyone in the Freedom Division. Dezare Fillmyer, a sophomore midfielder, has already developed into a very dangerous player. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Menissa Blackwell (midfielder), Kristen Cliver (back), Nicole Killian (back), Virginia Lee (back), Brittany Logan (forward), Claudia Shafer (forward) and Sarah Muchowski (forward/ midfielder) are all very skilled sophomore field hockey players.
This year Smith may also give freshmen Kirstie Smith (goalie), Audrey Lee (back) and Kristin Tully (multiple positions) some varsity playing time.
Last season Florence finished with an 8-8-3 record and lost in the playoffs to a loaded Robbinsville team, which played mostly bigger schools during the regular season. Florence, however, graduated just one senior, Joelle Tolifero, off of last year’s club. So this year Smith is expecting big things.
“We should continue to build upon last season and continue to progress forward. We have great leadership within the team and the team works together as one unit!,” said Smith. “Our girls are aggressive learners and have a will to win this season. I believe that anyone on any day is beatable or can be beat. It is important to take one game at a time while keeping in mind that every game is important.”
This season the Florence girls’ varsity field hockey team will play its home games at the new school. Florence is scheduled to open its season with a home game versus Riverside on Friday, September 12th.
BRHS
Last year, Kim Fithen became the new head coach of the Bordentown Regional High girls’ varsity field hockey team and she did an excellent job of rebuilding the program, as the Scotties fell just one win short of qualifying for the playoffs.
This season, despite the graduation of key players like Jessica Bernard, Jessica Nami, Laura Delahante and Kelly Congleton, the Scotties expect to be even better.
“One of our goals this season is we’d definitely like to make the post season,” said Fithen. “I think that’s a feasible goal if they continue to execute.”
Unfortunately, Bordentown will have to play without its star sophomore Lindsey Treptow, who will miss the entire season with an injury.
“That’s a huge loss for us because she was expected to step into the center-mid position,” said Fithen, whose team will miss Treptow’s great drives and her incredible passion for the game of field hockey.
Bordentown does, however, have some great returning players, including First Team All-Star defensive back Meaghan Tohill, who is now a senior. Great on corners, Tohill always works very well with her center midfielders.
“She’s definitely a leader,” said Fithen of Tohill.
Moreover senior Tracy Romberger, the Scotties’ leading scorer from last season, is also back as a forward. Senior Lindsey Bell, Bordentown’s Second Team All-Star sweeper, is also back. Bell is an excellent defender with plenty of skill and a great knowledge of the game.
According to Fithen, Ashley Jaekel, a senior midfielder, has really stepped up her game since last season and Fithen is expecting her to have a big year this season. Moreover, Ashley Adams, Bordentown’s talented goalie, is back for her junior year. One of the top scorers for Bordentown’s JV team last season, junior speedster Lauren Hazlett has made the jump to varsity this season and is expected to provide some offense from the forward position. Ashley Bronston, a returning junior forward, also looks good.
While Fithen is still finalizing her varsity roster, Soozin Kang (a sophomore midfielder), Megan Meszaros (a senior forward-midfielder), Kaitlin Moynihan (a senior midfielder), Stephanie Talley (a junior goalkeeper), Kathleen Timm (a junior forward) and Melissa Yanucil (a junior back) are all expected to get varsity minutes this season.
“The girls have worked hard in the offseason,” said Fithen. “I had 26 kids at the Ramapo field hockey camp which was a very good turnout.”
This year Fithen is once again being assisted by Katie Ashe while Lisa Sabo will run the freshmen program. Fithen and Ashe do a lot of work with their players on fitness and conditioning. The returning Scotties field hockey players already know Fithen’s system pretty well.
“I see this core group working well with each other and they’re more familiar with one another,” said Fithen, whose team finished last year with an 8-11 record. This season the chemistry and the talent is there for Bordentown to have its best season in quite some time.
Bordentown is scheduled to open its regular season with a home game versus Cinnaminson on September 12th.

