MOVING FORWARD: Hun School field hockey player Julie Fassl patrols the field in action last season. Hun is looking for junior Fassl to be a catalyst on the forward line this season. The Raiders start their 2015 season by hosting Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 16 and Pennington on September 17 before playing at WW/P-S on September 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While the Hun School field hockey team boasts plenty of depth, Kathy Quirk is still figuring out the best way to utilize her  resources.

“We had 52 girls come out for preseason; there are a lot of girls but I have a lot of inexperienced players at the varsity level,” said Hun head coach Quirk, who guided Hun to an 8-11 record last fall.

“We will work through it, we are working hard. I am just hoping that we are going to be able to step up and fill those holes that we lost last year and just move on.”

Quirk is depending on junior Julie Fassl to step up at forward. “I moved her back to a mid for a period of time but now I have got her back on the line again,” said Quirk of Fassl. “She brings a spark, she is quick and she likes to go to the cage. She has a good, hard drive.”

Hun has other options at forward including senior Gabrielle Cifelli, sophomore Julia Revock, junior Kate Davis, senior Tatiana Swain and senior Kate Consoli.

“Gabrielle Cifelli and Julia Revock are returning,” added Quirk. “We have Kate Davis, who is new to the varsity this year and played JV last year. Another one on forward line is Tatiana Swain. I am not sure about Kate Consoli, she may be on the forward line or she may go back and play defense for us as a sweeper. She sees the field well and is able to direct and move kids around.”

In the midfield, battle-tested Maura Kelly should keep things moving. “She is a senior and she will probably move into the center of the field,” said Quirk of Kelly.

“She has one year of experience, she is really working hard. She is trying to move the ball and be that transition person from defense to offense.”

Quirk is depending on two veterans, junior Delia Lawver and senior Mariesa Cay to provide stability in the middle of the field.

“Delia Lawver will be starting for us,” said Quirk, who will also use junior newcomer C. J. Mozeika in the midfield.

“Mariesa Cay was on varsity last year; she is looking for a lot more playing time this year. She has come back in better shape. I am looking for some big things from her.”

Hun is looking for big things from  Kristina Sickmuller, a post-graduate from South Africa.

“To say she knows the game is an understatement, she is going to be a real key player for us,” said Quirk.

“She has beautiful stick work; she has played at a very high level down there. She is a little flashy; I think she is going to help us and anchor our defense. She is going to play center back for us and do a lot of running. She is strong, she knows the game, and she does a lot of talking. She gets the kids to pass the ball back and up.”

The Raiders return two other defensive anchors in junior Sophia Albanese and senior Charlotte Stout.

“Sophie Albanese will be on the back line along with Charlotte Stout, both of them are returning starters from last year,” said Quirk, who will also be using sophomore Helena Hemberger,  senior Alexis Goeke, senior senior Sierra Hessinger, and Meghan Ward on defense.

“Both of them are very strong, Sophie does a great job of getting the ball out and up the field. Charlotte does a great job of being in the goal cage and saving goals.”

Quirk is confident that senior Shannon Dargan can fill the void in the cage left by four-year starting goalie Reina Kern, who is now playing at Penn.

“I think she is ready to step up,” said Quirk. “She is making progress and she works hard everyday.”

In Quirk’s view, her squad’s success this fall will come down to some critical intangibles.

“They all need to have the desire and then they have to believe they can do it,” said Quirk, whose team gets its 2015 campaign underway this week by hosting Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 16 and Pennington on September 17 before playing at WW/P-S on September 19.

“If I put you out on the field, you have to say OK, she must believe in me. It is about opportunity, desire, and belief. I am hoping that we will have a good season. Everyone is working hard, the key to success is hard work.”