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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Patel Making Noise From the Back For Sizzling Stuart Field Hockey
By Bill Alden
Ami Patel has been making a lot of noise on the field this fall for the Stuart Country Day field hockey team.
In terms of providing decibels, Patel is a motor-mouth on the field from her sweeper position on defense. The senior spends much of Stuart's games barking out calls to her fellow defenders and cheering the Tartans' offensive players. When it comes to performance on the field, Patel's game has made a loud impact with her combination of athleticism, stick skills, and coolness under fire. After Stuart dismantled Hun 4-0 last Wednesday, Patel acknowledged that she is no shrinking violet on the field.
"I'm the team cheerer," said Patel with a laugh. "Our defense is very solid. There are four of us back there and we have a great goalie. We talk a lot."
Patel prides herself on bringing an upbeat approach to the field. "I think my best quality is always being positive," explained Patel. "I'm never going to say we are going to lose this. We have a great team spirit. I like to be happy. This is our team, let's make it the best."
With Stuart at 8-2 after beating Ranney 6-0 last Friday and having outscored its last four opponents by 21-1 margin, Patel believes the Tartans are starting to play their best.
"I think our team is really coming together," said Patel. ³We're becoming one unit now. Our front line is strong and really working together now. Because we are one unit, we all can find the cage, not just one person."
Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik is pleased by how things are coming together for her squad. "In practice, we've been focusing on finishing and not holding back in the circle," explained Bruvik.
"I think at times we have waited for someone else to get the job done. I think each attacker has to realize that's her job. We've had a lot of multiple scorers. We're getting very good balance."
In the win over Hun, the Tartans got two goals from Taylor Blazewski and one apiece from Sam Hackney and Alice Murnen.
Two days later against Ranney, Stuart got two goals each from Kelly Bruvik and Eleanor Hayes-Larson and one apiece from Megan Fitzpatrick and Kate Baker.
In Bruvik's view, a key to Stuart's scoring surge has been the play of senior star Blazewski. "Taylor has been our top player,² declared Bruvik of the attacker who dished out four assists in the rout of Ranney. "She is stepping up as a senior. She is finishing and making things happen for everyone else.²
While the scoring gets the attention, Bruvik realizes that the efforts of Patel and her fellow defenders have formed the foundation of Stuart's success.
"You build things with a solid defense," said Bruvik, who has been getting sharp play in the cage from goalie Christa Goeke.
"Ami does a nice job back there. She keeps her nerves under control. She can redirect the ball for us and remain poised back there in the big games."
Bruvik believes her team's sizzling form of late is the by-product of having played in several one-goal contests earlier in the season.
"I think all of the games have helped us," said Bruvik, whose club plays at Montgomery on October 15. "I thought today was a great team effort. I think we have great connections with our defense and midfield. What we learned today can really carry over."
Patel, for her part, maintains that she and her teammates are bringing a special intensity to the game this fall.
"When we come on the field we all tell each other that the next 60 minutes of your life will be left on the field," asserted Patel. "We say have no regrets. We treat each other like family. I think this is our year."
If Stuart can maintain that focus, it could be making big noise when it comes to the upcoming county and state Prep playoffs.
