(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: FOX NETWORK: Hun School field hockey standout Stefanie Fox passes the ball in Hun’s 4-0 win over Mount St. Mary Academy. Senior forward and co-captain Fox contributed two assists in the win as the Raiders improved to 4-2. In upcoming action, Hun plays at Stuart on October 5 before hosting Lawrenceville on October 7 and Springside Academy on October 11.

With Senior Star Fox Setting Positive Tone, Hun Field Hockey Getting Into Good Rhythm

Bill Alden

Stefanie Fox is determined to create a positive atmosphere around the Hun School field hockey team.

As a team captain, she provides verbal encouragement and serves as a liaison between her teammates and the coaching staff.

“I think the girls take it nicely and don’t think I am criticizing them,” said Fox.

“If they have something they want to say to the coach, they will come and ask me. I think they feel comfortable with me and our other captain, Lauren Apuzzi.”

On the field, Fox goes out of her way to distribute the ball. “I don’t want to be selfish in the game, I try to give the other girls the ball,” said Fox. “I love seeing us happy so I don’t want to be selfish or known as a ball hog.”

Last Wednesday, Fox displayed her playmaking skill, assisting on two goals as Hun topped visiting Mount St. Mary Academy 4-0.

“We set up triangles so we pass with a diagonal and then back through the triangle,” said Fox, explaining Hun’s offensive approach in the victory.

“We want to bring the ball up the field as smoothly as possible. I like having Carey [Million] in the middle and bringing it down the sideline and passing it in. It works really well, centering the ball.”

In Fox’s view, Hun bounced back well from a tough 4-3 loss at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on September 24.

“When we had practice, we focused on what we were struggling with,” said Fox.

“Our defense had trouble marking and we fixed that. We seemed to bring up our midfielders pretty well in this game and they were able to send it up to us. I think we played well together.”

Hun head coach Kathy Quirk liked the way her team worked the ball around the field against Mt. St. Mary’s as it built a 3-0 halftime lead.

“This is our first time on turf in a while,” said Quirk, whose squad improved to 4-2 with the win.

“We have been practicing on the grass so it made it much easier for us to control the ball. I was pleased with our passing. I thought we got a little complacent in the second half. But we won and did some nice things.”

In Quirk’s view, Fox has been doing some nice things for the Raiders. “Stefanie is doing a nice job distributing the ball and centering the ball,” said Quirk, who got goals from Francesca Bello, Olivia Albanese, Courtney Faulkner, and Million in the win last Wednesday.

“I think she is starting to feel more confident about herself. She is talking about wanting to play at the next level at D-3.”

Quirk also likes the play she has been getting at forward from junior Million and sophomore Bello.

“Carey and Francesca do a nice job of moving the ball down the field, hopefully one of them is going to put it in,” said Quirk.

Junior Olivia Albanese has been getting the Hun midfield moving in the right direction.

“I thought Olivia had a real nice game today; she is finally learning to stay in her position,” said Quirk.

“She had a habit of trying to back up everybody else; I told her if you stay in the center of the field, you are going to make more things happen. I think she is finally realizing that. She is not afraid to go into the cage and help out as a midfielder in that transition.”

The Raider defense has been getting some fearless play from junior Apuzzi. “Lauren is another one that is starting to feel confident,” added Quirk, whose team plays at Stuart on October 5 before hosting Lawrenceville on October 7 and Springside Academy on October 11. “She is a captain for us; I think her confidence is going upward too.”

Quirk is confident that Hun’s strong start portends good things ahead. “I do like the way we have started,” said Quirk. “I hope it is getting us ready for the tough games coming up.”

In Fox’s view, the Raiders have been getting tougher as the season has gone along.

“We have a young team actually but I think we are able to work very well together,” said Fox.

“Even though we did win today, we still have a lot to work on. Obviously we are not going to be a perfect team. I think that once we see what we do wrong, we are able to fix it well. We are getting stronger.”

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