Hosts rival Wakefield this Friday in home opener
After press time:
Melrose falls to Belmont 9-0 (Sept. 3)
Melrose defeats Wakefield 6-1 (Sept. 5)
THE MELROSE High field hockey team is coming off a historic season in which they made playoffs – and won a game – at home for the first time in 20 years. They open their season this week.
(photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High field hockey team returns just one year after a historic season during which they earned their first playoff bid in 20 years and a first-ever home playoff win (over Amherst). While they lost several talented seniors, they return 8 experienced seniors this fall and a handful of other returning starters. There’s no reason to think Melrose won’t embark on another playoff run in 2025. They get a chance this week when they open against Belmont and Wakefield. They host the Warriors this Friday afternoon at Pine Banks in their home opener.
“I’m definitely looking to replicate this season and go even further,” reports Melrose head coach Olivia Cameron. “We had an amazing turnout at tryouts with a very skilled group of freshmen who’ve been building the youth program over the years, as well as many returning players who put in a ton of work over the summer. I’m confident in this team and making it further than last year and I know the team feels the same way.”
Melrose will be led by senior captains Lindsay Minton, Ruby Sterling, and Elsie English, a trio who who’ve demonstrated much team commitment in the off season. Says coach Cameron, “They have all put in so much time and effort over the summer to get everyone prepared for this season and they are overall just great leaders.”
And they also have a lot of starters returning. “Lucky for me, I have a team full of them. I’m constantly switching up who is starting because whether you start or not doesn’t necessarily matter,” says Cameron. That includes eight returning seniors: Zoe Blumenthal, Emi Judge, Sophie Brown, Saoirse Uzgiris, Brynn Baker, Ruby Sterling, Lindsay Minton and Elsie English.
Her six juniors are also very game experienced. They include Callie Bolduc, Anna Sullivan, Lauren Oldham, Grace Jenkins, Sophia Hulbert, and Mary Atkinson. That goes the same for her three sophomores, Zoe Blackburn, Charlotte Blanchard, and Lily Keegan. They also welcome three freshmen this year in Caitlin Sestito, Maggie Shea, and Charlotte Taylor.
This year, Melrose debuts a new net minder on defense. “Our goalie this season is a very talented freshman, Charlotte Taylor,” reports Cameron. Taylor will help lead a defense that will include Lindsay Minton, Brynn Baker, Saoirse Uzgiris, and Callie Bolduc. “We have a few other lower midfielders, Elsie English, Emi Judge, Mary Atkinson, Sophie Brown, Charlotte Blanchard and Lauren Oldham that will also help out in the backfield,” she confirms.
Attackers on offense this season will come from the work of both their forwards and midfielders. This includes Ruby Sterling, Zoe Blumenthal, Anna Sullivan, Grace Jenkins, Sophia Hulbert, Zoe Blackburn, Lily Keegan, Caitlin Sestito, and Maggie Shea.
It’s been a busy and productive preseason for Melrose, with conditioning and scrimmages filling the days. Melrose kicked off their season on Wednesday on the road at Belmont (post deadline) and will open at home this Friday afternoon against Wakefield at Pine Banks. There are a few things the coach would like to focus on to kick their season off on a strong note. “We’ve been working the ball up the sides instead of down the middle, our offensive corners and capitalizing on more of them, tight defense in the circle, and confidence on the ball and off ball.”
Around the league, look for perennial state champ Watertown to challenge Melrose twice on the schedule this year, but according to the coach, each team in the ML brings competition; and that’s fine by her. “The Middlesex league will always be a tough league but playing skilled teams only makes us better,” says Cameron. “I’m confident we will be in the mix this season for teams to look out for and I’m excited for my second season as coach.”
Melrose will battle Wakefield this Friday, Sept. 5 at 4:15 at Pine Banks.