Colonials field hockey team could compete for title
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Shrewsbury - With six starters returning from a squad that advanced to the semifinal round of the Central Mass. Division 1 Tournament - and is led by Mid-Wach A Most Valuable Player Kathryn Nelson - the Shrewsbury High field hockey team should again be right in the middle of all the action.

"We lost five very valuable seniors, three of which were multi-year starters, so we have some holes to fill," Colonials coach Lauren Chenevert said, "but we have nine seniors on the team and six starters back so I expect us to be very competitive right from the start."

Returning starters for Chenevert include seniors Lindsi Panarelli, Nikki L'Ecuyer, Kimmi Ryan, Erin Crosson and Nelson, as well as junior Kara Macintire. Panarelli plays a back position while L'Ecuyer is a midfielder, Ryan a goalie and Crosson, Nelson and Macintire are forwards.

Other seniors on the team are Taylor Lincoln, Brooke Carney, Kara George and Lauren Poirier. Lincoln will play a forward position this year after being a middie last year, while Carney is a goalie, George a back and Poirier a forward.

Serving as captains for the Colonials this season will be L'Ecuyer, Crosson, Nelson and Macintire.

This group will have the task of replacing the quintet of graduated players Rikki Hullinger, Chrissy Chan, Andrea DiTerlizzi, Ericka Puccio and Danae Thibault. Hullinger and DiTerlizzi were starting backs on last year's tournament team while Chan was a midfielder.

Chenevert, who has been coaching the team for nine years, has been impressed by the leadership level of her captains and seniors.

"I'm so proud of them. I don't know if I could be more proud of a group of girls than I am of them," Chenevert said. "It's not just about playing field hockey for them. They completely understand the family concept that we're trying to create within this program.

"They're a close-knit group of girls who totally and completely care for each other," Chenevert said. "They're fabulous role models on and off the field. They've done a great job in preseason showing instead of speaking what Shrewsbury field hockey is all about."

Chenevert, like a lot of coaches, is a firm believer in the axiom that off ense wins games and defense wins the championship. To that end she is excited by the experience returning to the defensive end of the field, led by Ryan, who will begin her second season in the cage.

"Kimmi's a good goalie who played very well last year and got better as the season went along and she gained experience," Chenevert said. "She runs the defense. She makes the calls. She positions the players. She calls the shots. She's central to everything we want to accomplish defensively this year. We need another solid, consistent season out of Kimmi."

Off ensively the Colonials are led by Nelson, who paced the team last season with nine goals and 14 assists. Nelson enters the season just 21 points shy of the 100-point plateau, a notable career accomplishment that's certainly within her grasp.

"Kathryn certainly leads us offensively, but we're lucky to have a number of talented playmakers," Chenevert said. "Our leading goal-scorer last season was a freshman - Alyssa Ineson. There's a number of girls on this team that work hard to get themselves in the right position so that when the opportunity comes to score, they step up and take the shot."