(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SOLID START: Hun School field hockey star Alix Aidekman heads up the field in recent action. The leadership and solid play provided by senior co-captain Aidekman has helped Hun get off to a 4-2 start. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at Stuart Country Day on October 8, host Lawrenceville School on October 10, and then play at Ranney School on October 13.

With Aidekman Providing Leadership, Offense Hun Field Hockey Displaying Early Promise

Bill Alden

In recent years, the Hun School field hockey has been known for starting slow and then catching fire down the homestretch.

When the Raiders fell 4-1 to WW/P-N to open the 2009 season, it looked like history might be repeating itself.

But instead of getting into another early season rut, Hun responded with four wins in its next five contests.

While acknowledging that the Raiders haven’t always played the sharpest hockey, Senior co-captain Alix Aidekman is proud of the grit the team has displayed.

“Some of the games haven’t been so pretty but wins are wins,” said Aidekman, after Hun’s 1-0 win over Mount St. Mary Academy last week. “It’s great that we are coming out strong.”

Aidekman has enjoyed providing some strength to Hun’s attack. “I have been on the varsity team since freshman year and I have definitely always wanted to score,” said Aidekman, who scored two goals in Hun’s 6-1 win over the Pennington School on September 24.

“Personally I am more of a person who likes to pass to someone else but this year getting goals is on my mind. I really want to score more this year. Mrs. Quirk [Hun head coach Kathy Quirk] has really been focused on us scoring and getting in the mood to go after the ball and follow your shot.”

In the win over Mount St. Mary, though, Aidekman focused on defense as it became clear that Hun wasn’t going to pull away.

“What I kept saying to myself was keep blocking their passes,” recalled Aidekman. “It was getting your stick on the ground and keep defending.”

Hun head coach Quirk liked the way her players kept sticking with things as they edged Mount St. Mary, dealing with a raw day and a muddy field.

“I didn’t expect it to be a pretty game the way the field was and coming off two wins,” said Quirk. “As I told them at the end, you only need one to win.”

Quirk credited her midfield pair of seniors Kate Willey and Hailey Culhane with doing what Hun needed for the victory.

“I thought my midfielders, Kate Willey and Hailey Culhane did a nice job in the middle of the field,” asserted Quirk.

“They were moving the ball out to the side and sending it up. A few times we just were there to collect it or we were there and it hit our foot.”

The Raiders also got some nice defensive work in holding off the Mount Lions.

“Nicolette Natale has done a nice job on defense,” added Quirk. “I thought we did a nice job defensively. We still have to work on transition with my forwards coming back to help out on the defense in the middle. Taylor [Landis-Miller] had a nice game in goal today.”

Hun has displayed some nice balance on offense, topping Mercersburg Academy 5-1 in addition to erupting for six goals in the win over Pennington.

“They have all become very goal hungry,” said Quirk, who got goals from Alex Passano and Taylor Sumners in a 2-0 win over Lawrence High last Monday as the Raiders improved to 4-2.

“They are serious to put the ball in the cage, moving in front of it with sticks down. It is spread out. It is not one person scoring, everyone is.”

Quirk likes the serious approach Aidekman has been taking in her final campaign with the program.

“I thought Alix had a very nice game today; she controlled moving the ball down the field,” added Quirk, whose team plays at Stuart Country Day on October 8, hosts Lawrenceville School on October 10, and then plays at Ranney School on October 13.

“She was cutting and helping out. She leads by example; she’s not loud but she does a good job as a captain and a leader.”

Aidekman, for her part, has relished assuming a leadership role this fall.

“Hopefully I try to get everyone as pumped up as much as I can,” said Aidekman.

“I also try to be a support system; helping anyone out when they are having trouble on or off the field.”

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