Pelham News : field hockey

Pelham’s roster includes seasoned returners and talented additions

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:49:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Even with summer winding down, Linda Koehler wasn’t excited to have her Saturday calendar unexpectedly cleared. Pelham High School’s field hockey coach preferred following through with her original plans.

The Pythons were set to take part in a four-team jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 22, but the games were canceled due to inclement weather, a disappointment for a coach who wanted to provide game action to a relatively inexperienced squad.

Nine seniors graduated from last year’s Pelham team that finished the 2008 Class I regular season at .500, 6-6-2.

“When I look at the team, numbers-wise I do have returning players,” said the mentor. “Some have some really strong time in at varsity, and some have a spattering of varsity playing time. It is going to be about transitioning (the untested players), and that’s our major focus right now.”

One aspect of the team that should make the transition easier is the relationship between the varsity and JV programs. Several players suit up for both teams, and each squad runs the same system, making it easier for athletes playing varsity for the first time.

Returning players Kally Riddinger and Stephanie Winn, who serve as team captains, lead the group.

Riddinger is the Pythons’ top defender, while Winn is a midfielder. But Koehler said the pair brings more to the team than fine contributions on the field.

“You name it, they do it,” said Koehler. “They’re smart players with a strong varsity background, and they are hardworking, good role models in addition to being solid at their positions. Those are the key elements you look for.”

Kelsie Lynde is one player Koehler expects to improve throughout the season; the junior’s athleticism should help fuel the Pelham offense from midfield to attack.

For Pelham to excel on offense, Koehler said forwards Molly Smith and Keri Foley need to meet their potential; both possess strength in the offensive zone.

The coach also said the 2009 unit is an easy-going bunch with good chemistry. As the season proceeds, Koehler said she hopes to see her inexperienced players develop a better grasp of the game and make some necessary mental adjustments.

“It’s a matter of them realizing that they are more talented players than what they thought, but it’s hard to build that confidence,” said Koehler. “I think they’re much better than what they are giving themselves credit for.”

Pelham field hockey's turnaround impresses team’s coach and its foes

Salem Editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:50:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

As Pelham field hockey captain Gina Guimond walked off the Portsmouth field, her head bowed in defeat, an NHIAA official approached and offered congratulations.

“But we lost,” replied Guimond.

“Yes, but I have to admit I never expected this type of performance from a 13th seed,” said the referee. “Well done.”

Suddenly smiling, Guimond reported the conversation to her coach, Linda Koehler.

“Of course,” said the Pelham mentor. “Look at what you girls just did. You had a great team scared out there.”

Indeed, the underdog Lady Pythons held fourth-seeded Portsmouth to one goal and had several opportunities to tie the contest before falling, 1-0.

While many other low seeds were thrashed by their opponents, Koehler said she’s proud to have coached a group of girls that simply refused to give up.

“My team is flippin’ awesome,” said Koehler. “They absolutely played their hearts out.”

Just reaching the playoffs was accomplishment enough. After all, in the midst of what appeared from the outside to be yet another throw-away season for the Pelham, Koehler knew her team was capable of more. Following the Lady Pythons’ second win of 2008, a 3-1 triumph at John Stark on Sept. 24, the mentor said her 2-5 team had the ability to reach the postseason.

Though the Class I tournament seemed like a lofty goal at the time, the John Stark victory began a 5-0-2 run that included ties against 9-3-1 St. Thomas Aquinas and 8-5-1 Oyster River.

“We had a couple games early that were ‘coulda’, shoulda’, woulda’,’ but didn’t,’ and that’s OK,” said Koehler. “They played well, brought themselves together as a team, stuck with it and made a really nice turnaround from last season.”

Learning how to win again, said Koehler, was the biggest key to the program’s progress.

“We were second to the bottom last year, and we came from 22nd to 13th,” she continued. “The biggest thing is the mindset, knowing that they can compete and they can win and they can also have fun along the way, which they did.”

Though Pelham loses nine seniors – Guimond, Chelsea I’Anson, Emily Koehler, Kellie Chadwick, Devon Lamoureux, Cassandra Costello, Courtney Perry, Laurie Costa and Hollyann DeCarteret – Koehler expects to feature 11 12th-graders next season.

“We’re bringing back a solid core with a little bit on every line, so I think they should continue to do well,” she said. “You’ll see them back in the tournament. These girls want it. They saw what the team did this year, and they want the same, if not better.”

Pelham High School coach confident in team’s ability, seeks consistent intensity

Salem Editor — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:48:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Linda Koehler has spent the greater part of the last 20 years grooming young field hockey talent in Pelham.

After helping develop a generally successful high school program between 1987 and 1998, she spent 2004 through 2006 mentoring at the middle school, where she led several current Lady Pythons to two first-place finishes and a runners-up trophy.

In 2007, Koehler returned as an assistant at the high school, and this year she once again took the reins of the program, which hasn’t won more than a handful of games the last several seasons. Her aims are simple.

“Our first goal is to love playing field hockey again. Our second is to start winning some games, and then we want to finish it off by making a playoff appearance,” she said. “I know these girls, and you’re looking at girls somewhere along the line that obviously knew how to play.”

So when the Lady Pythons were getting off the bus prior to their road contest at John Stark on Sept. 24, Koehler’s advice was simple: Play like you’re behind three goals.

“They always play better in the second half, and I wanted to show them that if they come out with that same type of intensity, it’s a lot easier to hold the lead than to come from behind,” she said.

Sure enough, Pelham scored first when sophomore Kelsi Lynde connected with fellow midfielder Chelsea I’Anson, who planted the ball in the back of the net. In the second half, Lynde and Emily Koehler each notched tallies and the Lady Pythons cruised to a 3-1 triumph, their second of the season. Goalies Alexandra Catalano and Monique Fournier combined for the victory in net.

The win, of course, was a step forward. Now, Koehler said her players are ready to take some long strides, hopefully picking up enough momentum to reach the postseason.

“I think if you look at our season and you look at our schedule – we spent a lot of time on the road and played some historically strong teams – and … I was told we played great out there,” said Koehler. “My girls can play. They can’t necessarily always score, but they can play. More importantly, they’re happy, and now they’re starting to learn how to win.”

Pelham field hockey team thoroughly outplays Bow but falls at home, 2-0

Salem Editor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:15:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Pelham field hockey team created more scoring threats, but Bow made its chances count, earning a 2- 0 road victory. Although the Pythons spent most of the afternoon on the attack, the Falcons scored a goal in each half, defeating Pelham on Friday, Sept. 12.

Bow’s Kristen Chulada corralled a loose ball in front of the net and pounded it home, giving the Falcons a 1-0 advantage heading into the half. Falcons goalies Lydia Crisp and Sarah Starempfer split time in net, combining for the shutout.

“The defense’s ability to stop all of those chances was amazing, and the star of the game was obviously the defensive line,” said Bow’s head coach, Tracy Berube. “Even though a lot of the times they created those chances, they can back themselves up.”

For Pelham’s head coach, Linda Koehler, it was frustrating to see her team on offense so frequently without cracking the scoreboard.

“(We) dominated that game, but we were caught flat,” said Koehler. “It’s the second effort to put those back in (the net) that we need. We just need to learn how to win, and it goes back to having confidence.”

Berube agreed the Pythons controlled the flow of play, despite what the scoreboard indicated.

“We had to bring it back to basics,” she said. “I think they outplayed us, so you have to focus on going slow, making passes and hoping they find a rhythm. I can’t tell you what this is doing for our morale. Hopefully it gives them the confidence they needed.”

In the second half, Pelham continued pressing for the equalizer inside the Bow offensive circle, but Julia Romano added her first goal of the season with 4:38 remaining to seal the victory.

Romano had missed the majority of the preseason as well as Bow’s first three regular season games with an ankle sprain.

With the win, Bow improved to 1-2-1 for the year. The loss dropped Pelham to 1-2 on the young season.

Ali Meagher, Lindsay Davis and Kelly Knepper anchored the Bow defense to help blank Pelham, while Devon Lamoreux and Kally Riddinger kept the Pythons in the game on defense.

Koehler said it was Bow’s ability to switch from defense to offense that was difficult to stop.

“They transition very well from defense to offense, and they did it very quickly,” she said. “They took advantage of their opportunities.”

So close – Pelham has chances but can’t come up with goals in 3-1 loss

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:28:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Pelham High School field hockey team continuously pressured Bow High School on Friday, Sept. 21, but the Lady Pythons scored only once, losing 3-1.

Alex Catalano was outstanding in net for the Pythons. The freshman made 14 saves, including many diving stops in the face of Bow’s attack, to help keep her team close most of the contest.

Pelham, in fact, jumped to a 1-0 lead with 18:17 remaining in the first half after Kellie Chadwick slapped the ball past Bow’s outstretched goaltender.

However, Bow evened the score a little more than two minutes later when Becka Keyes knocked in a loose ball.

With 10:45 remaining in the contest, Pelham fell behind for good as Heather Bennett knocked in a rebound to put Bow up 2-1.

Still, the Pythons were in good offensive position during much of the game. Head coach Mary Johnson said it’s difficult to show her players how to make that final push.

“Punching the ball in when you’re that close is the most impossible thing to teach. It’s right there, and it’s just a matter of wanting it,” she said. “You can take the ball 100 yards and get it to that 10 inches, but sometimes that 10 inches seems even farther.”

While they played well in many aspects of the game, the Pythons, their coach said, need work on the game’s mental aspects.

“We really have to deal with the mentality and keeping our hopes up,” said Johnson. “When we score (to go ahead) – great.

But we still have to keep that momentum and continue to play. We just have to keep continuing to push hard.”

“In field hockey, unless you are an amazing field player, it comes down to heart and who wants it. You have to have that will and desire,” said Bow head coach Tracy Berube. “We saw that (our players) could run and hang with Pelham, and they just had to want it more.”

Jess Fanaras played well defensively and Alicia Beauregard played well on offense for the Pythons, who dropped to 2-6 with the loss.

Climb continues – Pelham High looks up the standings, eyes .500 mark

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:17:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

It’s been an arduous process, but Pelham High School Field Hockey continues its slow march toward respectability.

Coach Mary Johnson, in her fourth year with the program, second at the varsity level, said when she took over, the team was blown out every game.

“Those teams averaged 7-0, 8-0, 9-0 losses. I mean, it was a program that really fell down the drain,” said Johnson, a Pelham High alumna.

“Last year, we missed the playoffs by one game and have vastly improved over the last four years. Even when we lose, the margin is much closer.”

Still, last year’s record of two wins, 10 losses and two ties leaves plenty of room for improvement, said Johnson, who said her team is at the postseason doorstep.

“I’m a high school English teacher, so I have always had high expectations,” she said. “Last year, it got tough because we all had really, really high expectations, and I think we may have expected too much… This year, my biggest goal is to keep morale high. While the playoffs are definitely a goal, our main goal is to go .500, and if that happens, we will be there.”

Senior captains Christine Maconie on defense and Katie Bourque at midfield lead this year’s squad.

Junior Emily Koehler, who plays center midfield, serves as the third captain.

“She was our MVP last year, and I expect a big goal year from her,” said Johnson. “She’s a great stick handler, and we’ve changed some things around to put her in a position where she is going to be one of our leading scorers.

Senior wing Alicia Beauregard, is also expected to contribute on offense, in addition to freshman forwards Molly Smith and Keri Foley, who Johnson said both have the ability to become immediate scoring threats.

Standing watch in goal this year is Alex Catalano, another freshman, who Johnson said exhibits similar athleticism to her older brothers Peter and Mark, who excelled in basketball and baseball as Pythons.