SHINING STAR: Hun School field hockey goalie Reina Kern surveys the action in a game last season. Hun is relying on senior star and Penn-bound Kern to have a big year as it looks to improve on the 6-14 record it posted in 2013. The Raiders open regular season play by hosting Academy of New Church on September 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The Hun School field hockey team boasts strength in numbers as it looks to rebound from a 6-14 campaign last fall.

“We have 45 kids out, two of them are hurt right now,” said longtime Hun head coach Kathy Quirk.

“I have 40 field players and three goalies. The kids are working hard, we have been in preseason since August 22.”

A key to Hun’s success this fall will be getting some good work from its one-two punch of senior Vicky Leach and sophomore Julie Fassl at forward.

“I am looking for big things from Leach and Fassl,” said Quirk, who will also be using freshman Julia Revock on the front line. “

“Vicki is very determined, she is a great kid, very coachable. I am looking for senior leadership from her. Fassl gave up fall ball softball; she has committed herself to being a better field hockey player. She works hard every day in practice. She is great on carrying the ball upfield and making crosses into the circle.”

Quirk will be relying on senior Julia Blake and junior Maura Kelly to carry the team in the midfield.

“We had Blake at center but we are going to go with two midfielders so she will be on the right,” said Quirk, whose team opens regular season play by hosting Academy of New Church on September 11.

“We are hoping that she steps up and scores some goals. Maura Kelly has only played for two years. She has got a lot of speed, she is still learning the game but she is a good learner.”

The trio of senior Shannon Graham, sophomore Sophia Albanese, and senior Taylor Nehlig gives Hun some experience on defense.

“Shannon Graham will anchor the center,” said Quirk. “She left soccer after tearing her ACL. She is still learning the game but she is picking it up; I think playing defense in soccer really helped her. Sophia Albanese will be on one side. Taylor Nehlig on the other side; she is another senior who I hope will step up with her leadership.”

Penn-bound senior goalie Reina Kern figures to be a leading light this fall for the Raiders.

“We are hoping that Reina will have her best year ever,” said Quirk. “She knows the game and is good at directing her teammates. She communicates and keeps them in the right place. I am hoping that she is the strong anchor of the defense.”

Quirk is hoping her team will get better and better as the fall unfolds. “We are very inexperienced at the varsity level; it may take a couple of games for us to get going,” said Quirk.

“We will make progress every game. We may take our lumps before we make that big jump. We need to be goal hungry. Defensively, we need to remember who to mark and then mark them. We have to stay strong and communicate.”