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Season Preview: Tournament is field hockey’s goal

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The Panthers. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The field hockey team is shooting to make the tournament.

Olivia Phelps, Lauren Dunn, Joli Flamos, Mary Kate Ryan, Rosie MacKinnon and Paige Cosgrove are all back for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team

So why not set the bar high this fall?

Phelps and Ryan, are two former Patriot League All-Stars and team MVPs, Dunn has established a knack for finding the back of the net, MacKinnon is a force on defense and Cosgrove, a sophomore, is already a first-liner.

“We would like to make the tournament,” said Todd Humphrey, who is in his ninth year coaching the Panthers.

Phelps, a senior captain, scored a team-high six goals and was named the Panthers’ MVP last season. Dunn, also a senior, added four goals and two assists.

“[They] are quite the tandem,” Humphrey said of his forwards. “[They’re] super fast and always looking for each other on the field.”

The sophomore Cosgrove joins them on the top line at forward this season.

“She has great skills for her age,” Humphrey said. “A true playmaker. A good passer and shooter.”

Ryan, a senior captain, and Flamos, also a senior, are back at midfield. They’re two of 17 seniors on the roster.

“[Ryan] has always been excellent at reading offenses and creating turnovers,” Humphrey said. “Joli has always been a great two-way player and we expect to see that again this season from her.”

Seniors Ashley Sawtelle and MacKinnon, a captain, will anchor the defense in front of first-year goalie, junior Reagan Heath.

“Ashley was voted by her teammates as the most improved player last season,” Humphrey said. “Rosie is strong, fast, agile and mentally tough.”

This is Heath’s first year on varsity.

“She is quick, has good lateral movement and she has a good directional kick,” Humphrey said.

The head coach added he’d like to see his team, which finished 2-9-1 last season, turn the ball over less this autumn.

“We have the talent to move the ball up the field and create offensive opportunities.,” Humphrey said. “We need to be mindful of maintaining ball possession.”

 The Panthers, who are hoping to build off last season’s 1–0 Patriot Cup win over Marshfield, are back in action Friday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. on the road at West Bridgewater.

 “We had our first playoff win last year,” Humphrey said. “We would like to make the tournament and see where that takes us.”

Season Review: Field hockey rolls with the new rulebook

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Head coach Todd Humphrey instructs his team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The W-H field hockey team rolled with a new rulebook this fall.

For the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team, it was a unique season in every sense of the word. 

“Going from 11-on-11 to 7-on-7 and taking away penalty corners were massive changes,” said seventh-year head coach Todd Humphrey. “I would say that most of my players were skeptical of the rule changes at first, but they soon learned to embrace them, especially the 7-on-7 dynamic.”

Specifically the open space on the field. 

“It allowed them to showcase speed and passing,” Humphrey explained. “We would practice our skills during the week and on Saturdays we would take time to develop our conditioning. Determining proper coverage and defensive responsibility was difficult too. Especially, since the offenses in the Patriot League tend to be strong.”

W-H finished the season 2-9-1, highlighted by a 1-0 victory over Marshfield in the first round of the Patriot Cup. 

“The game was a culmination of our efforts preparing for the playoffs as a team throughout the regular season,” Humphrey said. “Since every team in the Patriot League was going to compete for the Patriot Cup, I felt like the regular season was a preseason. The regular season allowed us to try different formations and strategies with our players. It took us a while to find the style of play that worked best for us.”

Junior forward Olivia Phelps had the winning goal. She found the back of the net a team-high six times and dished out three assists en route to being named a Patriot League All-Star. 

“Olivia Phelps was a force to be reckoned with this season,” Humphrey said. “She really started to shine during our home game against Duxbury, and for the rest of the season, she was relentless in moving the ball down the field and attacking the opposition’s defense. She also showed her strength as a two-way player by supporting the defense.”

Fellow junior forward Lauren Dunn (four goals, two assists) and senior forward Lauren Clark (two goals, four assists) also contributed on offense this season. 

“They are amazing players,” Humphrey said. “They worked exceptionally well together, especially when they moved the ball down the field. They are all unselfish players which made them great passers. They did a great job creating offensive opportunities against very formidable defenses.”

Paige Cosgrove also made her presence felt, according to Humphrey. She was the only freshman on varsity and Humphrey said she is excited to see her develop. 

“She came to tryouts with a lot of great field hockey skills,” said her coach. “Paige currently plays forward and will be one player to watch in the upcoming years. She will need a supporting cast of players.”

So, what’s the future of W-H field hockey?

“Our field hockey program will continue to have camps and clinics in the summer to introduce middle school girls to our sport and hope that our numbers continue to grow,” Humphrey said. “We encourage girls in the Whitman-Hanson community to try our sport. Some of our girls have been playing on club teams during the off season and that is making them better players. Others have been attending field hockey camps during the summer to improve their skills.”

Season Preview: Field hockey aiming for deep cup run

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The Panthers. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers are looking to make a deep run in the Patriot Cup tournament.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team has its eyes on the cup. The Patriot Cup, that is. 

With no state tournament, the Patriot League teams will end their seasons squaring against one another for some hardware, as they tackle the new format of 7-on-7 field hockey together. 

“We would like to go far in the Patriot League Cup tournament,” said seventh-year W-H head coach Todd Humphrey. “As a team, we need to learn how to adjust to how each team in the Patriot League plays 7-on-7 field hockey. The season is all about live and learn.”

And while the season may have a different look and feel to it — the Panthers are hoping to carry over their momentum from last fall, in which they went 4-5-4 in their last 13 games after starting out the year 0-5-1. But as always there’s room for improvement, especially in the transition game. 

“The faster we can get the ball up the field and set up our offense as a cohesive unit in the opponent’s end will improve our chances in the Patriot League Cup tournament,” Humphrey said. “We have a good team of very athletic girls. Playing in the Patriot League is tough since every team is excellent.”

Junior midfielder Mary Kate Ryan flourished playing in the Patriot League last season en route to being named the Panthers’ lone league all-star. This fall, she’s their top returnee. 

“She has great hands and is able to find open players,” Humphrey said. “Very defensive-minded and good creating turnovers.” 

Seniors Lauren Clark, Noelle Cornetta and Madi Savicke are W-H’s captains for the shortened season.

Clark, a two-year captain, led the Panthers with 10 points last season, scoring a goal and dishing out nine assists.

“Lauren is a solid two-way player,” Humphrey said. “She does her best to create opportunities.  She is always looking to shoot the ball on net. She does a great job at sparking our offense.”

On the other end of the field, Cornetta is the anchor of W-H’s defense along with classmate Skylar Leonard, both of whom are three-year starters. 

“She has really improved her ability to move the ball up the field, which has been helpful in transitioning to 7-on-7,” Humphrey said of Cornetta. 

“[Skylar is] a solid defender, “ Humphrey said. “She is very reliable [and] is good at dealing with pressure situations caused by opposing forwards.”

Savicke also knows quite a few things about pressure situations, as she settles into her third year in between the pipes. She posted a 2.09 goals against average last autumn.

“Madi is at her best handling pressure in the arc,” Humphrey said. “She is great at directing players to where they need to be on defense. She has a heck of a good kick pass to get the ball to our midfielders.”                                        

Seniors Nicole Clack, Delanie MacDonald, Katie Mulligan and Christina Short, juniors Lauren Dunn, Joli Flamos, Maddie Guidaboni, Rosie MacKinnon, Olivia Phelps and Ashley Sawtelle and freshman Paige Cosgrove should all play significant minutes as well, this season.

W-H will be back in action Friday, Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m. on the road against Notre Dame Academy (of Hingham). 

“We can run up and down the field in a moment’s notice,” Humphrey said. “I have had to shift lines as if I was an ice hockey coach again to keep up with the intense pace.”

Season Review: W-H field hockey shows vast improvement

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The defense. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers rose their win and goal totals this season.

When sixth-year Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey head coach Todd Humphrey looks back on the past season, he breaks it into parts.

Part one: the Panthers’ first six games, in which they went 0-5-1. Part two: their last 13 games, in which they went 4-5-4. So what changed?

“The process truly began after the fourth game of the season against Hingham, where we lost 5-0,” said Humphrey, whose team finished the season with a 4-10-5 record. “We all agreed that we should not be losing 5-0 to any team. We looked at our practices, our pregame warm-ups, penalty corners, our positioning in the offensive zone and our game plans. The process lasted throughout the season, and we got better.”

So, when the Panthers played Hingham again, 10 games later, they lost 3-0. The game was a lot closer than the score indicated Down 1-0 at halftime, W-H surrounded two second-half goals to Keenan Division MVP Catherine McNally.

“After the game, there were a number of Hingham parents that reached down to shake my hand from the stands to commend me on the improvements of my team,” Humphrey recalled. “It was quite a moment for me as a field hockey coach, to say the least.”

Also during that 13-game stretch, the Panthers bested Pembroke (2-1), posted a pair of ties against Norwell (1-1 and 0-0), tied Hanover (0-0) and beat Duxbury (3-2).

“I felt that when the season progressed, we were finding better ways to get the ball from our defenders to our front seven,” said Humphrey. “Transitioning the ball will always be a work in progress. I don’t think you can spend enough time evaluating how your team moves the ball up the field.”

An improved transition game was just a part of the Panthers’ newfound success on offense.

“Brooke Nisby (junior forward) was relentless whenever she was on the field,” said Humphrey, whose team raised its goal total from 14 last autumn to 21 this season. “We did a better job distributing the ball off of free hits, especially in our own zone. We came up with a penalty corner strategy that helped us score three goals in [the] last three games. Olivia Phelps (sophomore forward) and Lauren Dunn (sophomore forward) started doing better at controlling the ball and becoming threats to score.”

Sophomore midfielder Mary Kate Ryan was selected as the Panthers’ league all-star.

“Mary Kate hustles to get in position to make plays both offensively and defensively,” Humphrey said. “She controls the ball extremely well, especially when carrying the ball through traffic. She is a great passer and a great play maker.”

Junior captain and forward Lauren Clark (goal, nine assists), senior captain and forward Maddy Tassey (four goal, three assists) and senior forward Robin Goyette (two goals, three assists) also contributed heavily on offense.

Down the other end, senior captain Victoria Ryan and junior defenders Noelle Cornetta and Skylar Leonard were rocks in front of junior goalie Madi Savicke, who posted a 2.06 goals against average.

“Her best performance may have been the tie against Hanover,” Humphrey said of Savicke. “She made some impressive saves in that game. The Pembroke and Duxbury wins really showed how strong she is under pressure. She is an essential component of Whitman-Hanson field hockey.”

Humphrey said he expects the program to make another leap forward next fall.

“With the amount of returning players in key positions, I would say that we would have a very good opportunity to make the tournament,” said the coach. “I can see Ashley Sawtelle (sophomore defender), who will be replacing Victoria Ryan at the left defensive position, working well with veteran defensive players Noelle Cornetta and Skylar Leonard.”

Season Preview: For field hockey team, it’s about acting like you’ve been there 

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The team is introduced before its game against Pembroke. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers will try to get their offense going this season.

There’s no magic recipe for fixing the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team’s offensive woes.  

So, sixth-year W-H head coach Todd Humphrey is instituting an “act-like-you’ve-been-there approach.” 

 “Our forwards and midfielders need to be more poised when they shoot the ball when they are in the offensive zone,” said Humphrey, whose team finished 2-10-6 last fall, while scoring just 14 goals. “They also need to be the first to rebounds for second opportunities.” 

The Panthers’ inability to create much of anything in transition was a major reason for their struggles on offense. This fall, senior captain Victoria Ryan is asked to quarterback the transition game for her post at left defender.  

“She will need the help of her teammates,” Humphrey said. “Victoria comes up with ideas on how to improve the team and the program as a whole. She is willing to do anything on and off the field to support the program.” 

The Panthers also return their two leading goal scorers from last season – juniors Lauren Clark (captain) and Delanie MacDonald – so that should help expedite the growth of the offense. MacDonald netted a team-high five goals, while Clark (starting left-center forward) poked home three last season.  

“Lauren Clark is a speedy ball-handler and has a high-powered shot,” Humphrey explained. “She is truly passionate about field hockey and cares deeply about the program.” 

“Delanie is great at taking advantage of opportunities in the offensive zone. She is quick at finding seams to the net and taking advantage of them.” 

Senior Robin Goyette flanks Clark to her left as the starting left wing, while sophomore Lauren Dunn starts at right-center forward and senior captain Maddy Tassey anchors the right wing. 

The midfield is occupied by sophomore Joli Flamos (left midfielder), Rosie MacKinnon (center midfielder) and Mary Kate Ryan (right midfielder). All factor in heavily to the Panthers’ strength – their speed.  

“Our forwards and midfielders are fast,” said the coach. “We like to move the ball as quick as we possibly can through the neutral zone to give ourselves as many scoring chances as possible.” 

In net, the Panthers return junior Madi Savicke, who posted a sparkling 1.67 goals against average last fall.   

“She played exceptionally well for us last year,” Humphrey said. “She and the new-look defense are looking to gel early so they can lock down opposing offenses early in the season.” 

After splitting time on the right side last year, juniors Noelle Cornetta and Skylar Leonard are now starters. Cornetta’s moved to center defender, while Leonard remains at right defender. Both have their work cut out for them, with the graduations of defenders Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan (now playing at Bridgewater State University), the team’s two lone league all-stars last season. 

“Noelle and Skylar offer experience at the defensive position,” Humphrey said. “They both are quite good at playing in front of Madi.” 

The Panthers are back on the field Thursday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. on the road with a league game against Silver Lake.  

“I am looking forward to my players getting better at working together on the field,” Humphrey said. “The Patriot League is made up very talented teams, and we are going to need to be a unified front if we are going to push to the top of the standings.” 

Season Review: Field hockey ‘D’d up

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The Panthers gather together during a home game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Defense was the strength of the Panthers field hockey team this fall.

Defense.

It was the obvious strength of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team, which finished the season with a 2-10-6 record.

“The defense had to stop amazing offenses, and they themselves were truly amazing,” fifth-year head coach Todd Humphrey said.

The Panthers surrendered just 32 goals on the season, five of which came in their second meeting with Keenan Division champ Plymouth North. Against the Keenan’s second best team, Duxbury, which qualified for the tournament, W-H held the Dragons to three goals in two games, as opposed to 13 goals in two games last season.

Even Fisher Division champion Scituate had a difficult time finding the back of the net against the Panthers, scoring two goals in two games. As a result of the stout defensive effort night in and night out, seniors Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan, who is a captain, were tabbed as Patriot League All-Stars.

“They were phenomenal on defense all season,” Humphrey said.

W-H’s backline also featured some youth in first-year varsity sophomores Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta. The duo switched off playing on the right side.

“They are excellent defenders with a bright future,” Humphrey said. “They will be starting next season as right defender and center defender. Look for Victoria Ryan to take over for Olivia at left defender, that spot is crucial to secure and she has the skills to be effective.”

In net, sophomore Madi Savicke put forth a breakout campaign, posting a 1.67 goals against average.

“Madi is good at reading opposing offenses and getting in the right position to make a save,” Humphrey said. “She is also really good and communicates with the defense in front of her as well.”

As good as the Panthers were at stopping opposing offenses, their offense was unable to generate much of anything itself, poking home just 14 goals on the season. Losing senior captain and forward Annika Putur just seven games in, which they were 2-2-3 in, to a torn ACL threw a wrench into the Panthers’ plans. They didn’t win a game in her absence.

“It truly was a turning point in the season,” Humphrey said. “Annika is an incredible ball handler and was a massive contributor to our offense when she was on the field. When she left our line up, we had to reinvent ourselves up front.”

Sophomore Delanie MacDonald provided a silver lining during the team’s offensive woes, scoring a team-high five goals on the fall. Her classmate Lauren Clark had three.

“Delanie was great at positioning herself inside the arc to make a play,” Humphrey said. “Delanie was able to get quick and close shots away from goalies.

“Lauren worked great with Annika and had two goals with her support. She was able to get her other goal hustling on the grass field of Silver Lake.”

Humphrey said despite the impending loss of nine seniors, he firmly believes his club will be competitive next season.

“For the most part, the vacancies will be in the midfielder and forward positions,” he explained. “We do have talented players in the system to fill those spots. Look for the front seven to create more scoring opportunities next season. Defense should be solid. How we transition the ball will determine how well we do overall in the Patriot League.”

Double dose of Dunn: Sister act chips in for W-H varsity field hockey

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Lauren Dunn (left) and Kathryn Dunn (right) after the first game of the season. / Courtesy photo

Sisters Lauren and Kathryn Dunn are ecstatic to be playing with each other for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team.

Coming into tryouts, Lauren Dunn was just aiming to make the freshman field hockey team.

But her speed was too much to pass up for Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey coach Todd Humphrey, who selected her and two other freshmen out of 26 for the varsity team.

“During tryouts, I noticed that Lauren was quick to the ball,” Humphrey explained. “She was aggressive. She’s going to be a playmaker. I thought she worked well with Annika (Putur), so I want to continue to enrich that throughout the season.”

Dunn’s low expectations for her roster status stemmed from the fact that she just picked up the sport over the summer after a lifetime of playing soccer. 

Her sister Kathryn, a senior, made a similar move. Kathryn was the MVP of the junior varsity girls’ soccer team her sophomore season before deciding field hockey was the fall sport for her.

“Kathryn was kind of debating [joining field hockey] and talking about it,” explained Humphrey, “and I said, ‘Look, I don’t recruit. I’m here for you if you want to make that transition. If you want to come play field hockey, I’m here for you. That’s your decision.’”

So, when Kathryn found out her younger sister cracked the varsity team, a few months after talking her into playing the sport, she was ecstatic.

“I think I was more excited than she was,” Kathryn said.

EXPERIENCE

The two sisters’ only prior experience playing together has come when Lauren subbed in on Kathryn’s AAU basketball team when they need an extra player or two.

Lauren said her older sister has been an immense asset for her to have by her side as she makes the transition to high school both in the classroom and the field.

“She’s been a lot of help,” said Lauren. “She’s just there for me, always. It’s awesome.”

Humphrey said this season brings back memories of 2014, when freshman Colleen Hughes (’18) came out for the team along with her sister Caitlin (’15), who would end up being the program’s first captain since its revival that season after a 30-year hiatus.

Colleen went on to captain the team three seasons later. Caroline Woodward (’16) was a captain her senior season and then her younger sister, Tina (’18), went on to do the same her senior season.

“It’s very much a family affair, for sure,” Humphrey said. “I like it.”

In the Panthers’ first game of the season, a 1-1 tie against Scituate, Humphrey gave both Dunns the start – Kathryn at defender and Lauren at forward.

“That was awesome,” Kathryn said. “Scituate was the Fisher League champions, so it felt great to tie against them because they’re a good team.”

Said Lauren: “I was so excited to get to play with her. It was a lot of fun and we played really well, too.”

KEY FORCE

Kathryn was a key force in the middle for the Panthers that game, and Humphrey said he can’t begin to explain her importance to the team as an elder statesman.

“I’m really impressed with Kathryn,” he said. “She was working in the offseason. She was playing in the Bridgewater Dome just doing different things – putting the basketball down a little bit and playing some field hockey, so it definitely helped.”

Humphrey said Kathryn’s biggest improvement from last fall is her technique. “She’s just great at getting low and sweeping the ball,” Humphrey said. “That’s very different because last year she was very high. Now she’s very low and she’s able to drive the ball down the field.”

While Kathryn clamps down on defense, Lauren is flying down the field with the offense. In the Panthers’ 2-1 victory over Silver Lake on Thursday, Sept. 13, Lauren passed the ball to junior Victoria Ryan, who buried it home for a goal to make it 1-0.

“You’re going to see Lauren going more with the offensive flow, just very graceful and fast,” Humphrey said.

NEXT GOALS

The goal the rest of the way for the Dunns is to keep the Panthers’ winning ways going. Through five contests, W-H sits at 2-1-2, its best start since the program resurfaced four years ago.

“We’ll never get this chance again, so I’m glad we got this,” Kathryn said.

Season Preview: Despite graduating 15 seniors, W-H field hockey is aiming for playoffs

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The Panthers during an Oct. 18 game last season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers look to keep plowing ahead after the graduation of 15 seniors.

For the past five seasons at tryouts, Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey head coach Todd Humphrey has watched the pool of players expand and talent level rise.

That’s why after losing a 15-player senior class – albeit one that set the tone of what field hockey is at Whitman-Hanson – Humphrey isn’t using the term rebuild, but rather “transition” to describe this fall.

“We’re very, very fast,” the fifth-year head coach said. “Our front seven — our forwards and midfielders are quite fast so that is a help, a boost, having lost 15 seniors.”

Humphrey, whose team, which was brought back in 2014, set highs in wins (six) and goals scored (30) last season, even took three freshmen – Lauren Dunn, Joli Flamos and Rosie MacKinnon – on varsity, which speaks volumes of how much field hockey has grown at W-H. But for every young team, it takes veteran leaders and playmakers to steer the ship to its destination, and the Panthers have them.

Senior captain Olivia Sheehan is as good as it gets from the left corner of the defense.

“Olivia Sheehan is one of the better defenseman in the Patriot League,” Humphrey said. “She will step up and battle and the thing about Olivia [is] when she gets the ball, she has an unbelievable burst.”

Senior captain Lauren Godbout has been with Humphrey since she was a freshman and will start at right midfielder.

Senior Annika Putur, who joined the team last season, will start in the center of the field at forward and serve as a captain, a role she serves on the girls’ lacrosse team as well.

FORWARDS

“The offense pretty much centers around her,” Humphrey said. “She is a great ball mover. She’s very fast and I’ve noticed this year she’s got a little cut. She can deke on the field.”

Flanking Putur on her left will be sophomore Lauren Clark, who Humphrey expects to see big things out of.

“She was on the freshman team and I was just moving her around a lot last year just to expose her because we were so crowded on varsity last year,” Humphrey said. “I knew she was a good goal scorer and know you’re going to see the coming out of Lauren Clark.”

Clark will work in tandem with junior Robin Goyette. At right wing will be another tandem with juniors Maddy Tassey and Sophie Molinari.

Zoe Lydon, a girls’ hockey and lacrosse captain, will back up Putur, and Lauren Dunn, senior Samantha Whitman and sophomore Delanie MacDonald will see time at forward.

MIDFIELDERS

Junior Victoria Ryan, a softball captain, will go up against some of the Patriot League’s best from her spot at left midfielder, and she looks to be up for the task.

“The reason I chose her at left midfielder was so I can deal with all these right wings that are so fast,” Humphrey said. “I figure that she can trail them.”

Flamos will also see time at left midfielder and junior Abby Repoza at center midfielder, while seniors Emily Stearns and MacKinnon will be up the middle.

“I want to get a lot of speed in the midfield and I’d love to see our midfielders enter the offensive zone – that half circle – and join the offensive attack,” Humphrey said.

DEFENSE

In addition to Sheehan on defense, senior Kathryn Dunn – a girls’ basketball captain – will roam the middle with sophomores Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta to her right. Sophomore Madi Savicke takes over for Molly MacKinnon in goal.

“She’s been playing in a lot of leagues and getting in shape,” Humphrey said. “She’s looked great and definitely has a very bright future.”

The Panthers are back on the field Friday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. as they play host to non-league rival East Bridgewater. 

“In terms of wins and losses, I’d love to make the tournament, Humphrey said. “I think there might be some growing pains at first. We’ll see where we’re at one game at time, but we may have ourselves a playoff team.”

Season Review: Field hockey nets some success

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The Panthers during a 6-2 win over East Bridgewater. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team set highs in goals and wins this season.

It was back in 2014 when the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey program was revived after a 30-year hiatus.

W-H head coach Todd Humphrey said he remembers it like it was yesterday.

“I look back at the past and four years ago, it was 28 girls with me in the middle of a grass field trying to figure out field hockey,” Humphrey said. “That’s where we were at.”

The following fall, W-H, which competed at the junior varsity level during its first season back, was granted a varsity team. As expected, it was a struggle for the Panthers who didn’t manage a single victory and scored a mere three goals.

Last season, the program formed a freshman squad as participation numbers boomed to nearly 60. At the varsity rank, W-H battled through its first 17 games without a single win, before fielding a 3-1 victory over East Bridgewater in its final game of the season.

This autumn, the Panthers – led by senior captains Colleen Hughes, Ashley Memmolo and Tina Woodward – roared to new heights. For starters, their win total climbed to six. Humphrey said that despite the challenges his group has faced in the past, it never hung its head, and it paid off.

“It’s just a matter of learning from our mistakes or learning from losing really,” the fourth-year Panthers head coach said. “If you don’t learn from losing then you’ll never know how to win, so I think that’s kind of our philosophy.”

On the field, one aspect W-H honed in on improving was ball movement and it showed as its goal total spiked 11 last season to 30.

“It definitely helped, and how we took care of the offensive zone was big too,” Humphrey said. “The way the girls positioned themselves and we capitalized on scoring chances for sure, a lot better than last year.”

Humphrey said he felt his club’s biggest advantage was its speed, which was on prime display in the Panthers’ final game of the season, an 8-2 win over Norwell on Oct. 27.

“They were flying, everybody was giving everything they had,” he said. “It was really fun to watch the girls play all-out as much as they did. We were flying.”

For Humphrey, despite the result, it was a bittersweet ending as he was forced to say goodbye to his senior class of 15 players. About half of those girls were part of the 28 Humphrey was in the middle of a grass field with trying to learn field hokey a few years ago.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how special that group is,” Humphrey said. “They’ve been with me since the beginning. They shaped [and] molded the entire program and just their positive attitudes and their willing to take risk has elevated our entire program, and I couldn’t be more proud of them and grateful.”

Humphrey said he is highly optimistic for the continued success of the program, which had a record 64 girls in it this fall.

“It depends on the energy you put into it as a coach and as a coaching staff and my players just believing that we can be competitive,” he said. “But we’ve come very, very, very far. It’s going to be a very young varsity team next year, but they’re going to be fun to watch.”