By Caroline Willian ’13, Staff Writer

“We’re strong even though we’re small.” Star junior Carley Stein couldn’t have said it better. After losing a large and talented senior class, Newark Academy’s field hockey team consists of just eighteen players. The team only has the five subs, assuming everyone is healthy, and the program was forced to cut their Junior Varsity squad for the first time in four years.

The team is relatively young, with underclassmen outnumbering upperclassmen 11 to 7. But the strength of the sophomore and junior classes are key to the team’s present and future success. Most of the starters have been playing together for at least a year, and know how to play to each other’s best abilities.  “The sophomores work really well together, and all have huge potential” says junior goalie Grace Thompson. “There’s a lot of talent,” junior Meera Toolsidas agrees, “it’s just hard to adjust.”

One of the biggest challenges the team faces is keeping every player healthy. The team struggled when senior Liz Reisen was concussed and sophomore Kristen Nachtman injured her finger. It was crucial that the players didn’t miss any games – and it still is, even with both players healthy and back on the field. Thompson, the group’s only goalie, says, “I can’t get sick, I can’t get hurt…I don’t have a back-up.”

Their current record is a tough 2-8, which reflects not only the lack of numbers, but also their intense competition. Their conference boasts powerhouses like Oak Knoll, West Essex, and Montclair High School, ranked first, fourth, and twentieth in the state, respectively. But there is a silver lining. The high level of play is helping them improve, and granting valuable experience to younger players. “Everyone is stepping up and doing amazing,” Stein says, “and since we’re so small, everyone gets to play.”

A small team has other advantages too, like more individual coaching time. The girls all love coach Gina DiMaio. According to Thompson, the whole team is “very happy with her”; she raves over her “support and dedication” for a team of so few. The size also creates an intimate team dynamic. The players have forged close friendships with one another, which motivates them especially when the game gets tough. In a game against Governor Livingston, the girls let the opposing team snatch a one-goal lead at the end of the first half. During halftime, Thompson gave “the best pep talk ever”, bringing up team jokes, like their unofficial mascot, “Scout”. This instance of team unity inspired everyone to work hard throughout the second half, and the squad  went on to score two more goals, coming back for a 3-2 win.

As the program undergoes this period of rebuilding, the players are still hard at work, and enjoying it too. They’re always looking for additions, as well. Thompson calls out to middle and upper school girls alike, “come and join our amazing team!”