The Future Monarchs of Field Hockey? Trinity Hall Putting the Shore on Notice
By Casey Krish
TINTON FALLS – The Shore boasts the biggest conference in the state. With 48 member schools, it is easy for a school to be quickly forgotten in the shuffle. Trinity Hall, the newest edition to the Shore Conference, opened its doors in September 2013. Since its opening, the school has quickly established itself as a formidable addition to the Shore Conference.Among the teams looking to make a name for themselves is the field hockey program. The Monarchs began as a club team in 2017 before being recognized as a varsity program prior to the 2018-19 school year. Now in its second season as an official program, Trinity Hall is continuing to build from the ground up, and the results are starting to come.
Second-year head coach Marion Richardson has seen this team go from a one-win team to a team competing on a daily basis. As of this past weekend, Trinity Hall sits at 4-4-1 overall, and they are primed to compete for the Shore Conference B Central championship with Henry Hudson and St. Rose over the season’s final weeks.
“We have been having a great season, and I could not be prouder of the way they have continued to grow and come together,” Richardson said. “The growth as a team, as well as their individual growth, has been amazing.”
The first two years of the program were a struggle at times for the Monarchs. In 2017, the club team focused on developing skills and team building. Some girls even laced up cleats and picked up field hockey sticks for the very first time.
The 2018 season marked the first time the program competed among other schools as a recognized NJSIAA program. Trinity Hall struggled to a 1-13-1 record, but the past difficulties have led to current successes.
“These girls have always had a positive outlook. They are a great group of motivated student athletes,” Richardson said. “Of course, it feels good to win some games, but this group is so close-knit that there will always be that camaraderie whether they are facing ups or downs.”
One can write a narrative about a team success story, but without a team of student athletes there is not a story to tell. Trinity Hall has a diverse group of girls that together make up one common goal – to give their best effort to produce results.
The Monarchs have been solid on the defensive side of the ball allowing just 23 goals in nine contests to date. Throw out a blip on the schedule during which they allowed 12 goals in the span of two games, and the defensive numbers show just how good the back line has been.
“Our backfield is a very strong group. Whitney Butterfield is the captain back there, and with fellow seniors Mara Galvin and Kate Perrone in the backfield, we have a solid defensive unit that keeps the ball out of the circle.” Richardson said.
The midfield is also credited for the defensive prowess the supplies the Monarchs. A mix of senior leaders and underclassmen give opposing attacks another challenge while trying to formulate attacks against this Trinity Hall squad.
“We have benefitted from senior leadership in the midfield with captains Sophia Hegel and MK Cashman,” Richardson said. Sophomores Ellery Benedict and Sarah Nejame have also made an impact in the middle of the field.
Goalkeeper Alexandra Konczyk, listed among the “top recruits” in our 2019 fall preview edition, has provided a final roadblock for opponents to break through. The senior and second-year starter has had numerous heroic efforts in the cage for the Monarchs. Her best game of the season came on Sept. 14, a 22-save effort in a 1-0 loss to Monmouth Regional.
“Alexandra is a very calm presence in net,” Richardson said of her goalie. “She is not someone who becomes flustered easily, and she keeps focused. She also works back there at keeping the entire team grounded and positive as well.”
The Monarchs offense has been vastly improved from a group that managed only five goals over the entirety of the 2018 season. They have scored five or more goals in three of their nine games already this year.
Senior Alexa Sadowski and junior Hannah McCarthy are two of the returning starters on the front line. They endured the growing pains of a new program offensively last season. They have stepped up to the plate this year being tasked with improving the team’s offensive output, and they have each provided ample contributions.
Trinity Hall has put up 28 goals in nine games – good for just over three per game.
Richardson also noted how productive newcomers, such as freshmen Alyssa Laurino and Lauren Kane, have been as well.
“We have had a strong showing from our returning players, but we have also had some strong additions of some freshmen players. They have all helped propel us to this success.”
While many outside of the program would chalk up the 2019 Monarchs season as a success, regardless of the results the rest of the way, the team itself still has goals it wants to reach.
“We want to continue to work toward becoming a strong presence within our division and the Shore Conference,” Richardson said. “We are going to keep working hard and keep motivating each other to find even more success.”
Whether it is a Shore Conference Tournament appearance or a win in the NJSIAA Non-Public North bracket next month, the Monarchs are opening some eyes quicker than anyone could have imagined. Trinity Hall, the rookie school of the Shore Conference, has already inserted itself into the athletics landscape. The field hockey program certainly has the makings of being the next team to make a name for themselves.
“I am honored to coach the Monarchs,” Richardson said. “They never give up and maintain a positive attitude in everything they do. I am glad to call them my team.”
Latest posts by admin (see all)
- 2023 JSN Awards Finalists Announced - December 18, 2023
- Sunil Sunder Raj Recaps Day One of State Football Finals With OnNJ (VIDEO) - November 27, 2023
- Mental Health and Exercise: Finding Balance in New Jersey's Fast-Paced Life - November 27, 2023
