(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) COPING WELL: Stuart Country Day field hockey freshman star Maddie Copeland directs the ball upfield in Stuart’s 5-0 win at Hun last Thursday. Copeland scored a goal and assisted on three others in the victory.

Freshman Star Copeland Triggers Offense as Stuart Field Hockey Gets Back on Track

Bill Alden

Maddie Copeland may be just a freshman but she was determined to help trigger the offense for the Stuart Country Day field hockey team as it played at Hun last Thursday.

“I knew it was a big game and I knew we all had to come out strong and get a win,” said Copeland. “We pulled it together.”

Copeland played a key role in helping the Tartans produce a strong start, scoring a goal and assisting on two others as Stuart built a 3-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Copeland added another assist as the Tartans pulled away to a 5-0 victory.

After having gone through a tough stretch in late September which saw Stuart lose two of three games and score just one goal in those contests, Copeland viewed the performance against Hun as a step forward.

“Our passes are starting to connect with each other,” said Copeland, who scored a goal in Stuart’s 6-0 win over Lawrence on September 29.

“We are calling each other’s names out; we are cooperating more so I think it is working out well.”

Things weren’t working well for Stuart in the mini-slump that saw it lose 1-0 to Robbinsville and 2-0 to Hill while just edging Peddie 1-0 in overtime.

“I think we were just adjusting to the new players and the new starters on the team,” said Copeland.

“I think we have finally overcome that and we are starting to work a lot better now more as a team.”

Copeland certainly enjoys working with Stuart senior stars Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany and Caroline Passano.

“They are great players, Jackie and Caroline are both my mentors,” said Copeland. “They are a lot of fun, they are nice people. They really show me good stick work and help me improve as a player.”

Stuart head coach Katie Grant likes the progress Copeland has been making in her debut campaign.

“Maddie gets better and better every game,” said Grant, who got two more goals from her freshman star last Friday as Stuart routed Ranney 6-1 to improve to 8-4 on the season.

“She makes a big difference on the field; she’s such a presence out there. She is aggressive. Her skills are clearly improving every day; she’s a fun player. She’s really got a bright future; she asks questions and she takes criticism.”

Grant was happy with the bright start her team produced against Hun. “We have been focusing more on having strong starts,” said Grant, who got two goals from Passano in the win over Hun with Gaudioso-Radvany and Sophie Godfey-McKee also scoring.

“I feel the way you start the game sets the tone for the rest of the game. I think the girls understand that too. When you start on your heels, you are playing catch up the rest of the game. When you come out strong, you set the pace you want to play at and that you want the other team to play.”

The Tartans weren’t setting the right pace in the tough stretch they experienced in late September.

“We had a hard week or two; I think we are all on the same page that we weren’t playing to the best of our abilities,” said Grant.

“It was a wake-up call. I think it is OK to have that kind of stuff in the beginning or the middle of the season. It wasn’t like I was mad about them losing, I just wanted them to be able to play their best and enjoy it. We were going through phases where we’re happy here and then we are not so happy.”

Stuart’s play in the wins over Lawrence and Hun has Grant feeling happy about the way her team has been playing.

“They are doing simpler things, they are looking for the open player,” added Grant, whose team hosts Princeton High on October 10 before playing at Blair on October 14.

“They are having confidence in their passes and having confidence in their teammates receiving it. When you are sure of everything, it just flows a little better. I think it is just the mentality of playing for one another. In a team sport, a lot of the time one or two people set the whole tone. I think if they all take it upon themselves to be positive, it spreads to the rest of the team.”

With Stuart having won three straight Mercer County titles and tying for the state Prep title last fall, Grant is hoping for positive things come tournament time.

“I don’t like to look past games but by the end of this month we are going to be in it,” said Grant, referring to the county and prep tourneys.

“I think we do have some really special players with talent. On the whole, we are a good team. I think that is the most important thing; it is a team sport.”

Copeland, for her part, believes Stuart is ready to show its talent down the stretch.

“I think we are going to come out really strong in the tournaments and the rest of the games this year,” asserted Copeland.

“We just need to connect with our passes and work as a team. I think the best will come.”

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