An all-time Belmont High School field hockey great graduated last spring. That doesn’t mean this fall’s edition of the Marauders expects a regression.
While all-time leading scorer Mackenzie Clarke is now playing at the University of Connecticut, Belmont returns a strong core with hopes of advancing past the MIAA Division I Elite Eight threshold they’ve been, per coach Jess Smith, “stuck” on in recent years.
“No step back,” Smith said.
A program-record 57 players turned out this fall, including 17 freshmen. It’s the first year in more than a half-decade where Belmont won’t need eighth-graders to fill sub-varsity rosters. Credit the town’s youth program, entering its fourth year, for establishing a pipeline.
As a whole, it’s a group filled with great promise.
“The program just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” said senior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz. “The more people wanting to get involved and wanting to play automatically makes us better, and gets me really excited for the season.”
At least four freshmen should crack the varsity lineup.
“All of the underclassmen are prepared,” added fellow senior captain Natalie Merrow. “They’re really skilled, and I think they’re going to do great things this season.”
After earning the No. 6 seed in the MIAA Division I Tournament last fall, the Marauders fell in the Elite Eight for the second straight year. Both playoff losses came on the road, and the team has no desire for another painful bus ride back to Belmont.
The Marauders must replace the production of two Division I athletes. The aforementioned Clarke is now playing field hockey at UConn. Former defender Niamh Lesnik, a league all-star, is on the lacrosse team at Fairfield. Clarke, a two-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic who posted 27 goals and 21 assists as a senior, finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
It’s no secret that Clarke’s graduation necessitates the need for more scoring. Senior captain Gigi Mastrangelo, the team’s returning scoring leader, plays with many of her high school teammates on the club circuit. That chemistry will translate.
“Even though it’s a big loss, we already know how to play with each other and can make it happen,” Mastrangelo said. “It won’t just be one person. It’ll be a whole team effort.”
Lakin-Schultz (6 goals, 5 assists), Mastrangelo (17 goals, 11 assists) and junior Mia Smith (5 goals, 6 assists) are reigning Middlesex League All-Stars. Lakin-Schultz, who has committed to Brown University, leads the defense. Her younger sister, Lucie Lakin-Schultz, is another defender expected to make an impact from the opening game.
Mastrangelo, who will play at Division 2 Saint Anselm, is poised to take an even bigger role on the forward line. Sophomore Kendall Regan (12 goals, 3 assists) and senior Avery Reinold (5 goals, 5 assists) are other likely goal scorers to watch.
“Everybody’s going to have to play more offensively than they have,” Smith added. “Every moment in the circle has to matter.”
Smith, a midfielder, occupies a key role. Merrow is a varsity veteran alongside. Sophomore Kate Townsend is another talented returning starter in the midfield. Starting goalkeeper, junior Zoe Bruce, backbones it all.
The season begins with a road match at powerhouse and rival Watertown – always a top MIAA Division 3 program – Sept. 9 at 4:15 p.m. Other contests to monitor include vs. Winchester Sept. 16 at 4:30 p.m., vs. reigning Division I state champion Walpole Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m., at Winchester Oct. 12 at 11:30 a.m. and ending the regular season vs. and two non-league home games to the season, 5 p.m. matches vs. Newburyport Oct. 26, and the finale vs. Dover-Sherborn Oct. 28.
All home games will be played at Harris Field, and they hope to host a handful of postseason games there as well.
“I think we really have a big goal to make it past the Elite Eight,” Elsie Lakin-Schultz said. “We call it ‘the curse.’ We just want to make it past it this year, and maybe make it to the championship.”
