Hover near the goal. Stick on the ground. Tip the ball into the back of the cage. If it sounds simple, that’s because it is.
With eight returning starters, this fall’s Belmont High School field hockey team oozes talent. The little things, such as positioning for rebounds and tip-ins, team members say, will make all the difference as the Marauders seek a long run in the MIAA Division I tournament.
“Improving on our basic skills,” said senior captain and midfielder Mackenzie Clarke. “Last year, we had a little trouble scoring … getting better on the basics will really help us.”
Anchored by a stout defense, the Marauders went 16-2 last fall, nabbing the fifth seed in the MIAA Tournament and winning two postseason games before falling to eventual Division I state runner-up Andover in the Round of 8. That 3-0 defeat left a sour taste in Clarke’s mouth.
Thoughts about her forthcoming senior year and how to get better came as soon as the final buzzer sounded.
“Our last game last year was a little rough, and overall I think we could’ve done better,” Clarke said. “It’s about learning from our mistakes and working on them.”
With so much returning talent, the Marauders figure to factor into the conversation as one of the state’s top teams. MAX Field Hockey ranked the Marauders 11th in its recently released preseason New England top-20 rankings and the seventh-ranked team in Massachusetts. The Marauders slotted in at ninth in The Boston Globe’s preseason top 20.
The middle-grade-heavy roster includes four seniors, a combined 13 juniors and sophomores, and two first-year students..
And for what it’s worth, the Marauders won their division at this summer’s Elite Field Hockey Camp at Bentley University.
Last year, coach Jess Smith said she wasn’t quite sure what her team would do. It’s safe to say expectations for this fall have heightened. The team thrives under pressure, stemming from both within and without.
“I’ve been waiting for this crew to get older … and now it’s time,” Smith said.
Two future Division I college players, UConn-bound Clarke and Brown-bound junior defender Elsie Lakin-Schultz, headline the roster alongside fellow reigning Middlesex League All-Star defender Niamh Lesnik, a Division I lacrosse commit to Fairfield. Junior Gigi Mastrangelo, a junior three-sport varsity athlete (ice hockey and lacrosse), is another returning league All-Star to watch and will lead the forwards. Sophomore midfielder Mia Smith is another name to watch, alongside classmate Zoe Bruce, the goalkeeper, who is “looking really good,” Clarke said.
All of Belmont’s field hockey players also compete in other sports for Belmont. Many play ice hockey and lacrosse together. Their multi-dimensional athletic prowess and continuous camaraderie build a strong bond.
“We’re trying to focus a lot on goal scoring using our team chemistry,” Mastrangelo said. “It’s a bunch of the same people trying to connect super well together.”
The main lineup question is who will replace the graduated Ana Hopkins at the all-important center back position. While it’s not clear who will just yet, a quartet of Marauders remains in the mix.
“It’s what we’re searching for right now,” Smith said. “It’s a crucial position. They have to be a mature player who can handle pressure.”
Last year’s Middlesex League MVP and an All-Scholastic pick by both The Boston Globe and Boston Herald, Clarke led Belmont in goals (39) and assists (20) last fall. A MAX Field Hockey All-New England Second Team pick, Clarke is a four-year starter.
Lakin-Schultz is a rising star. A member of the Junior U.S. Women’s Field Hockey National Team, Lakin-Schultz started playing field hockey in eighth grade. Three years later, she’s one of the country’s standout talents, ranked by MAX Field Hockey as a top-50 recruit in her class nationwide. Smith expects Lakin-Schultz to shoulder more of a scoring load.
Their schedule is littered with tests, highlighted by a Sept. 9 matchup on the road at four-time reigning Division 3 state champion Watertown. Middlesex League contests vs. Reading (home Sept. 5, away Oct. 14), Winchester (home Sept. 29, away Oct. 24), and Lexington (home Sept. 25, away Oct. 22) loom large for postseason power rankings.
While prognosticators judge seasons by their final results, members of the Belmont High School field hockey team relish every game and practice. Especially the seniors, like Clarke, who balance their long-term goals alongside enjoying the process.
“Honestly,” Clarke said. “I think this year will be a lot better than last year.”
