Nicholson happy with team’s debut
By Zoe Crain, Special Writer
Katie Nicholson has a 100 percent win rate as head coach for New Egypt field hockey. Granted, her Warrior team has only played four games, but Nicholson feels that their “undefeated” record is nothing to be overlooked.
”So far, I’m very happy with my team,” Nicholson said. “I think they’re a great group of girls and they’re sticking to the game plan. They’re really eager to keep this streak alive.”
Nicholson bagged her first win in her head coaching career on Sept. 9, as New Egypt edged out Holy Cross by a score of 3-1. Junior Cortney Natalicchio and senior Jamie VanDerTuyn dominated the game with two goals scored by Natalicchio and a goal and an assist from VanDerTuyn.
The Warriors continued their streak in Game 2 of the season, beating Robbinsville, 6-3. Danielle Andreula picked up a hat trick and an assist, with her sister Gianna collecting two goals, along with an assist. Natalicchio also added two more goals to her season total. Emily Bausher ended the game with one goal and one assist.
New Egypt proved that its success was more than just beginner’s luck as they shut out Cinnaminson, 3-0, behind two goals by Natalicchio and one by sophomore Alexa Magnotta.
But the biggest win so far came on Friday, as New Egypt destroyed Northern Burlington, 7-0. Magnotta, Natalicchio and Gianna Andruela scored two goals apiece, with the final point contributed by Katelyn Buschhoff.
Nicholson, who swapped positions with her mom, Patti, said that the adjustment has so far been smooth. Nicholson had served as assistant/JV coach at New Egypt for four seasons, before making the switch with her mother.
”I coach a lot of the girls in lacrosse as well, so a lot of them have already had me as a head coach,” the younger Nicholson said. “I think that maybe helped them transition a little easier. I haven’t had any conflicts or anything like that, so I feel like it’s going pretty well.”
Although the situation is uncommon, Nicholson said that coaching with her mother has been a fantastic experience.
”It’s been really fun and really exciting,” she said. “My mom works for me, but she works with me. There’s no one that supports me more than she does.”
However easy the transition may be, Nicholson sees clear distinctions between the two coaching styles.
”My mom is more of a mom,” Nicholson said. “I haven’t hit motherhood yet, so although I’ve got some of those natural instincts, I’m much more intense that she is. And not that she doesn’t expect much out of them, but I think I expect even more than she had.”
Part of these high expectations might be related to the new division New Egypt competes in. Although the team is still a part of the Burlington County conference, they have moved from Freedom Division to the more competitive Patriot Division.
”I don’t think they understand it,” said Nicholson. “They know that they’re not in the Freedom Division anymore, but it’s confusing. I really do need to give them a piece of paper and say, ‘this is what it looks like.’ But otherwise, I think they’re really excited. They had great success in the Freedom Division and they want to be just as successful in the Patriot Division.”
Nicholson herself has had great success in her field hockey career. A two-time All-American at Allentown High School, Nicholson went on to play at the University of Virginia and later saw some international play.
”I do have a lot of experience,” Nicholson said, “so I bring that to the team, along with a lot of small hockey nuances that someone who hasn’t played at as high as a level as I did wouldn’t think about. I know a lot about the game and I can give them all of those things, versus someone who hasn’t played in a very long time, or even someone who hasn’t played at all.”
In addition to her own experience, Nicholson relies on her senior-stacked roster to provide support on and off the field.
”They have a mindset of how they want to play and what they want to accomplish for the whole season,” she said. “If anyone strays off of that, [the seniors] whip them back into shape, without me even having to worry about it.”
The senior experience also helps combat some of the pressures that come along with being undefeated.
”I have a group of very experienced seniors,” Nicholson said. “They’ve been playing for a while, and they make up the majority of the team. So I know they’ve been in pressure situations. But, there’s not nearly as much pressure at 4-0 as there is at say, 8-0.”
Although predominately upperclassmen teams have a few years of success, they can crumble when those star classes graduate. Nicholson does not believe that her New Egypt team will fall into the same pattern.
”We lose quite a few seniors, but we had two goals scored by two sophomores the other day,” she said. “Our JV team has a lot of great talent on it, and I know my mom is working with them. I just feel that everything is going to fit into place for years to come.”
In the present, the team goals are very simple and very attainable.
”One of their goals is to capture a Patriot Division title, but they want to go all the way and win a state championship,” Nicholson said. “If they set their minds to it and they feel they’re talented enough to do so, absolutely, it’s in their realm.”

