New Egypt The New Egypt High School field hockey team has picked up where it left off last season, when the Warriors won a division championship for the 10th straight year.
While winning their first five games in 2012, the Warriors have outscored Cinnaminson, Maple Shade, Delran, Holy Cross and Pemberton, 19-4, to establish themselves as a contender for the Burlington County Scholastic League Patriot Division crown.
New Egypt has won back-toback division titles after stringing together eight straight Freedom Division championships prior to that.
Cortney Natalicchio, who set school scoring marks in field hockey and lacrosse, is one of four players who graduated from the 2011 field hockey team. She has embarked on a career at The College of New Jersey for lacrosse and field hockey.
Also departed is goalie Danielle Solinski, midfielder Rachel Rocuzzo, and back Shelby Brevogel. Those players helped the Warriors win their first 13 games in 2011. New Egypt’s season ended at 16-3 in a state tournament loss to Audubon High School of Camden County. But coach Katie Sawicki has plenty of talent back and a balanced scoring attack that can make up for the loss of Natalicchio while giving opposing defenders nightmares as they try to figure out which players will strike on scoring threats. Seniors Brianna Consolloy and Courtney Stillwell, and junior Mackenzie Magnotta are the forwards. Consolloy and Stillwell scored in a 2-0 victory over Pemberton on Sept. 20.
As for the goalkeeper, senior
Emma Bunce and junior Johanna
Poedubicky, who were back-ups last season, have been sharing the responsibilities. The defense has senior returning starter Mackaila Probasco and new starters Alanna Best, a senior, and Sara Graser, a junior, who have come along well, according to Sawicki.
The midfield has controlled play led by the efforts of seniors Danielle Andreula, Alexa Magnotta and Jackie DelAnnoy, and sophomore Jessica Andreula.
“Overall, our team passes the ball around pretty well as a whole, but every- one’s doing well in all areas,” Sawicki said. “They have been playing really well, very patient. They do what I ask them to do. They have a good knowledge of the game. For defenders, those players have nice stickwork back there, which is uncommon.”
Sawicki said it is too early in the season to come to any conclusions about the 2012 team, whose quality was tested on Sept. 24 when the Warriors played at Florence High School.
New Egypt’s bench is loaded with older players who are ready to step in and do their part, including juniors Katie Solinski, Rebecca Bausher and Jenna Curren at forward, Jeanna Rodriguez at midfield, and Brianna Lammerding and Deanne Berchio on defense. Senior Alexis Marangoni is a versatile player who can fill in at many spots.