Rebuilding the Field Hockey Team

TIMBERLANE REGIONAL HIGHSCHOOL- As the fall sport season is underway, the Timberlane Field Hockey team is pushing to keep their program going. 

Last year the varsity team had a booming season that started slow with the record 2-4, but then made it to the semi finals after accomplishing a huge upset against the number one seed, Winnacunnet, to knock them out of the first round of playoffs. This year, three year Varsity Coach Melissa Nawn, due to family reasons, made the difficult decision to resign. This, along with losing 7 graduating seniors, the team needed to start from scratch and rebuild. 

New Face To the Program 

On May 27th 2021, Bailee Freeman was hired by Timberlane Athletics as the new varsity head coach and Jessica Soucy, former athletic trainer, as the assistant varsity and head JV coach. Coach Freeman has come to Timberlane from Pinkerton, first as a player and 2017 graduate, then as an assistant coach. In addition, Freeman coaches for Seacoast United Field Hockey.  I talked to Coach Freeman about the Owls preseason and season so far. “The preseason was rough and had its challenges but the girls were super flexible and worked hard throughout it.¨ As the season kicks off the field hockey record is 1-3-2, playing some of the top teams in their division. “The beginning of the season has been tough and what’s unfortunate is our record currently doesn’t reflect just how talented this team is but the leaps and bounds these athletes have made from the first day of preseason to our latest game is unbelievable in just a few short weeks.¨ 

Team Fitness 

Conditioning has been a big part of the program and training for these athletes this year. Numbers are low with only 15 varsity and 11 JV players. Therefore, it has been crucial for these girls to have a high stamina to get through the game with the low number of substitutions. ¨I have seen the team strive for a high level of conditioning. Since the regular season the team has been conditioned to be cardiovascular fit and continue to do so which shows during the games.¨ Says Gina, a new addition to the athletic training team at Timberlane. Coach Freeman also adds ¨Their conditioning is substantially better and impressive and every game we are playing better together and making improvements.¨ This team has been working hard to better themselves and is going to continue till the last second of their season.

Team Chemistry 

The team chemistry has been one of the greatest aspects of this year’s team. They may be a young team and most of them have met this year but the girls clicked immediately and created a great bond that most teams take years to get. Senior co- captain 

Mackenzie Mlocek says ¨The chemistry on this team is the best it’s ever been. We all laugh and have fun at every practice and we’ve all bonded with the new coach too. It’s like a family.¨ This energy within the girls has been great and is evident on the field during games. 

What The Future Holds 

This program has no plan of giving up. This year they have a younger defensive line that has become rock stars in just a short few weeks and the offense has been working hard to create scoring opportunities up the field. Now the girls just need to capitalize on those opportunities and put the ball in the back of the net. Freeman says “This team is one of the most spirited and passionate groups of girls and they are led by some of the most talented and skilled players I’ve ever coached. We’ve been taking the time to bond and grow together as a team and now that we have the first W in our book I think it’ll be a domino effect and we will be a force to be reckoned with within Division 1. Winning is a contagious feeling.” 

These girls might not have had the beginning of the season like they had hoped. However, their determination, drive and energy will carry positively through this season and into the playoffs!