NEW STAR: Stuart Country Day School field hockey goalie Alexxa Newman makes a save in a game this season. Junior Newman emerged as a star for the Tartans, recording six shutouts this fall in her first campaign as a starter. Newman’s heroics helped the Tartans win its last three games to post a 6-12-1 final record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After losing a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker to Princeton Day School in the opening round of the state Prep B playoffs in late October, the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team could have gone through the motions in its remaining games.

Instead, Stuart saved its best for last, ending the fall with a three-game winning streak, outscoring its foes 9-0 in those contests.

Stuart field hockey coach Missy Bruvik was proud of how her players kept progressing as the Tartans beat Nottingham 6-0, the Baldwin School 2-0, and Lawrence 1-0 in the season finale on October 29.

“I think what was great about it is that we were playing that much better from the beginning of the year,” said Bruvik, whose team ended with a final record of 6-12-1.

“We felt like we put a lot of things together and it was almost a shame to have the season end.”

The players’ upbeat mentality helped the Tartans come together down the stretch of the season.

“For these kids, it was just the chemistry and the never quit attitude,” said Bruvik.

“They always keep each other up. The individual skills clearly made a difference, I think every kid on the team improved. I think they just, in general, learned how to play the game. We started to make better choices. We weren’t holding onto the ball as long as we did earlier in the first half of the season.”

Junior goalie Alexxa Newman emerged as one of the better goalies in the area in her first campaign as a starter.

“I think she had six shutouts overall,” said Bruvik of Newman. “Throughout the season, she learned a lot.”

While the Tartans are suffering some tough losses to graduation, Bruvik believes her returners have a lot of potential.

“I think our three seniors are going to be hard to replace,” said Bruvik, referring to Tori Hannah, Sam Servis, and Cate Donahue.

“We are losing three 4-year starters. I think we have a good foundation. Our sophomores from this year (Catherine Biava, Ali Hannah, Sam Johnson, Maddie Michaels, and Elle Wigder) are really going to have to step up.”

Bruvik is already seeing her players step up their commitment to the game. “We have some good talent and we have kids right now who are looking to play some year-round hockey so we are hoping the passion is back too,” said Bruvik, whose current junior class includes Rachel Asir, Jess D’Amico, Izy Engel, and Sophia Jeannes in addition to Newman.

“We had a Futures tryout last week and we had several of our kids participate so that was good.”