Experience Returns to East Hampton Field Hockey Team

Familiar faces are back to lead the East Hampton field hockey team this season.

While the Bonackers lost six seniors to graduation — four of whom were starters — there were 10 juniors and seven sophomores on last year’s squad. Back to captain the team this season will be seniors Kerri O’Donnell and Ava Tintle, and juniors Caeleigh Schuster and Hailey Welsch.

“I think the captains all do a phenomenal job being great role models on and off the field and the three of them are all truly dedicated athletes,” Schuster said. “They all bring something different — some bring on-field leadership, while others lead by example or are observers who are very helpful during halftime and in-between quarters. In addition, all of them bring a tremendous collection of skill and leadership, which has truly been evident throughout preseason and our first two games.”

East Hampton opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Shoreham-Wading River, where Schuster, who earned Division II Goalie of the Year honors as a freshman, collected a career-high 31 saves. The Bonackers bounced back with a 6-0 win over Greenport/Southold, where seven different players got on the stat sheet. Tintle, who leads the Bonackers’ defense, collected a goal and two assists; Welsh, a midfielder, recorded three assists; and O’Donnell, a midfielder and defender, picked up a goal. Senior forward Olivia Walsh, junior forward and midfielder Carly Fromm, junior forward Emily Anderson and junior defender Brynley Lys also each scored once.

“I feel really confident in our group this year,” Schuster said. “Even though we had a rough opener, Shoreham is just always a competitive team, so it was definitely not the best team to start with. Overall, everyone pushes each other really hard and we all have a family-like bond. After our game — even though we lost — it was a good reality check that highlighted our weaknesses and what we needed to improve on.”

The junior said she thinks the proficiency this group has will bode well for her Bonackers.

“I’m very fortunate to have the experience that I do,” she said. “I feel as if helping lead the team is the least I can do, and the returners know the other girls appreciate me having the ability to ask myself, our coaches and our more knowledgeable players for advice or help with anything — and that goes for on and off the field. We all love to help each other, and it’s always really helpful to have experienced players and coaches that the team can look up to.”

Schuster said she’s seen tremendous improvement in a short period of time, especially since offseason training.

“A majority of the girls either played club during the winter or just came to spring and winter small-group sessions where they focused on perfecting basics and experimenting with new techniques,” she said. “I think that even though we have our captains, everyone equally leans on each other, including myself. Even as a captain, there’s times where I need to look to others for support, and I think that’s what makes our team so close.”

The goalie said she’s also been impressed with the defense in front of her, and how responsive they’ve been as the Bonackers look to improve upon their first-round playoff exit to Rocky Point last year following a close 1-0 loss.

“Our unit has the ability to take and even ask for criticism because they all want to know what they can do better,” Schuster said. “That drive and desire is one of the most important things a player can have.”

East Hampton traveled to Eastport-South Manor on Tuesday, results of which were not available by press time. The Bonackers travel to West Babylon on Thursday, September 12, for a 5 p.m. contest before a 4:45 p.m. matchup with Bayport-Blue Point on Tuesday, September 17.