Blue Devils Capture Post-Season Field Hockey Awards

The Huntington varsity field hockey team closed out a rebuilding season with five players winning awards, including junior Charlotte Curtin and seniors Brooke Parks, Ella O’Heir, Olivia Polinsky and Jordana Paniccia.

Coached by Kathy Wright and Allison Conlon, the 22 player team was captained by O’Heir, Polinsky, Paniccia and Elizabeth Stair.

Curtin was named All-County Honorable Mention with Parks and O’Heir claiming All-Classification honors, Polinsky being recognized as All-Division and All-Academic and Paniccia garnering the Unsung Hero Award.

“We became strong and more experienced with every game,” Wright said. “We played to the very last whistle. We were a team of girls that played with determination. We celebrated brilliant moments on the field. We supported each other through a very difficult schedule of games. No matter the score, after every game we all still loved the game of field hockey, being on the team with friends and wearing a Blue Devil uniform. Every hard earned goal was a tremendous accomplishment. The joy in hearing the ball hit the back of the cage was amazing. We celebrated our defense every time it stopped the ball.”

Curtin led the Blue Devil office with three goals and six assists from her forward position. “Charlotte is very skilled and has amazing stickwork,” Wright said. “She’s able to control the ball and bring it up the field.”

Parks shined as a middie defender. “Brooke is an excellent middie defender,” the coach said. “She’s able to get low and get the ball back. She has excellent stickwork and drives and she’s a leader on the field.”

A talented middie, Polinsky capped off her career with another fine season. “Olivia is such a hard worker,” Wright said. “She’s always playing her hardest and sees the whole field. She loves the game and playing every minute. Liv is a leader on the field.”

O’Heir is still another skilled middie. “Her endurance on the field is amazing,” Wright said. “She’s able to get the ball if the attack turned it over and transition the ball back to them. She’s a leader on the field.” The teenager tallied four goals last fall.

Paniccia made her final season count, too. “Jordana is an amazing defender,” Wright said. “She stopped girl after girl. She has been another of our most important leaders.”

Junior goalkeeper Sophia Weiss racked up 152 saves. “She’s fearless in the cage,” Wright said. “Her confidence increased with every game.”

Stair was splendid on defense at sweeper. “Elizabeth gave the very best of herself each game and was one of our leaders on the field,” Wright said.

The Blue Devils are looking to turn around their fortunes next fall. The team will reassemble for the new season in late August.

“We have a good group of new ninth graders joining us next year,” Wright said. Huntington’s returning varsity players will be rising sophomore Caroline Mitek; rising juniors Katie Cocoman and Sofia Van Arsdale; and rising seniors Charlotte Curtin, Sophia Weiss, Aine Rimkunas, Erika Reyes, Rafaella Gregorio, Ella Granito and Alexandra Centrone.

The Huntington coaching staff is looking to add players to all three teams; varsity, JV and Finley. Everyone is welcome to give the sport a try.

Wright’s goals for 2024 include “to continue to develop and grow in numbers our high school field hockey program,” she said. “To continue to work with the youth program to help to develop and increase the numbers for the middle school program so that our high school program will have more girls joining our teams. To bring the middle school team into a winter league so that they are very interested in playing when they come to the high school in the fall next year.”