IN SYNC: Stuart Country Day School field hockey goalie Emily Harlan tracks the ball in a 2023 game. Senior star Harlan has been sharp in the early going this season, posting three shutouts as Stuart has started 3-0. The Tartans will look to keep on the winning track when they play at South Hunterdon on September 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Since the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team had only two seniors on its roster last year, a number of young players got thrown into the fire by necessity.

As Stuart headed into its 2024 campaign, Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik believed that going through those growing pains is paying dividends.

“I can see it in their play, they learned all of the basic skills so now they are trying to take their skills to another level and are working off each other,” said Bruvik, who guided the Tartans to a 5-6-1 record in 2023. “We had a couple of scrimmages and it was just great to see their enthusiasm and support and cheering for each other. When they see somebody execute something, they know that they saw it and let them know.”

The Tartans have been executing very well in the early going this season, edging Steinert 1-0 in their season opener on September 4 and then topping WW/P-North 2-0 last Friday and defeating WW/P-South 2-0 last Monday.

Senior goalie Emily Harlan (105 saves in 2023) has been sharp in the cage, posting three shutouts with eight saves so far this fall.

“Emily had a terrific year last year, she is looking great,” said Bruvik, whose team will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at South Hunterdon on September 14. “She is experienced. Nobody outdoes her commitment and her work ethic. She is taking shots all day and guiding the defense back there. She is doing a great job, our defense is so confident having her experience in goal.”

Bruvik is confident that senior Nyla Flamer (5 goals, 4 assists in 2023) and junior Abby Chirik will spark the Tartan midfield.

“Nyla is going to be an attacking midfielder this year, we give her the green light to shoot through,” said Bruvik, whose midfield will also include freshman Alex Janiszewski. “She will be a big part of the offense corners this year. She leads by example because she is passionate about the game. Abby is one of the most versatile players on the team. She has great instincts, she has a nose for the ball. She is great in transition and finds her teammates.”

Junior Sydney Anderson and junior Nana Akua Ken-Kwofie (1 goal) figure to be leading the forward line and will be joined by senior Linyah Lokesh (1 goal), senior Elisa Bohmanova (1 goal), junior Najima Tahiry (1 goal), junior Gloria Wang (1 goal), junior Sami Feldman, and freshman Elaina Ryan.

“Sydney is playing very well on the offensive line, hopefully she is going to be our breakaway attacker,” said Bruvik. “She has great speed and confidence going to goal, we are seeing that from her this year. Nana started last year and is definitely going to contribute to the offense. She is awesome at coming back on defense and helping in the midfield.”

On defense, seniors Maya Dev and Annarose Bourgoin St. Maurice (1 goal, 1 assist) will be anchoring the back line along with senior Amanda Guadalupe and junior Hadelyn Martinez-Cambero.

“Maya is playing some strong defense, she has great instincts in the backfield,” said Bruvik, whose defensive unit will also include a trio of freshmen in Zoe McDonald, Maddie Morrison, and Karina Hannawacker. “Annarose is a good athlete, we have her at center back. She is good at distributing the ball. Amanda will be playing defense, she has improved a great deal since her debut last year. She has really settled into the defensive positioning. Hadelyn is on defense and is looking good in backfield.”

Junior Jada Hutchinson (1 assist) is primed to give Stuart good play all over the field.

“I think Jada is going to make some really important contributions in both the backfield and the midfield this year for us,” said Bruvik, who has a lot on her plate this year as she is also serving as Stuart’s Interim Director of Athletics. “She is a strong kid with great speed.”

In Bruvik’s view, the Tartans have the depth to produce a strong season.

“We do have pieces to work with, right now it is just going to be finding that chemistry on the field,” said Bruvik. “There are enough new kids on the field, there is opportunity for people to be playing different positions this year. There is no doubt after watching them in preseason and their training that we should be able to play a competitive 60 minutes. We just have to finish. We need to take advantage of the opportunities that we get and on our offensive corners.”