The old adage that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree holds true in the case of the New Egypt High School field hockey program, where Katie Nicholson has carried on the coaching success that her mother, Patti, enjoyed for years before stepping down after the 2009 season.
“It’s been going great and things are running pretty smoothly,” said the younger Nicholson. “I am very excited about how this group of girls is very focused. They want to be successful. It’s a combination of things; they are very talented girls and they have a game plan.”
Patti Nicholson has remained on staff with the Warriors as an assistant coach.
As the week began, New Egypt (15-1) had won its last eight games en route to the Burlington County Patriot Division championship — its first year in that division after winning eight straight Freedom Division titles — behind a well-balanced team led by captains Danielle Solinski, a junior goalkeeper, Karly Ossinski, a senior midfielder, and Michele Coyne, a senior defender.
The team concluded the regular season against Moorestown on Oct. 26 and (tentatively) against Montclair on Oct. 30.
The NJSIAA South Jersey Group I state sectional tournament will begin next week.
The lone blemish on the Warriors’ record is a 5-4 overtime loss to Florence, but Nicholson pointed to a 5-2 victory at Rancocas Valley on Oct. 19 as a good gauge to the team’s progress.
Another big win came at home against Delran on Senior Night, an 8-1 victory. Earlier in the season, New Egypt beat Delran, 2-1.
Nicholson said the second game against Delran showed her players’ determination and motivation.
The rest of the Warriors’ lineup includes seniors Jamie VanDerTuyn and Kaitlyn Probasco, and sophomore Alexa Magnotta on defense; senior Emily Bausher in midfield; and seniors Kayla Soles, Gianna Andreula and Katelyn Buschoff, and junior Cortney Natalicchio at forward. Natalicchio has 25 goals and seven assists.
Junior Shelly Brevogel and sophomore Daniele Andreula are reserves who have provided solid support.
— Wayne Witkowski