(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: COMING THROUGH: Stuart Country Day field hockey star Maddie Copeland, left, battles for the ball in a game last season. Last Wednesday, sophomore midfielder Copeland scored three goals to help Stuart beat the Blair Academy 5-0. In upcoming action, the Tartans, now 2-2, play at Hill on September 25, host George School on September 26, and then play at Peddie on September 29.

With Copeland Triggering the Offense, Stuart Field Hockey Showing Progress

Bill Alden

Maddie Copeland stood out as the busiest player on the field for the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team as it hosted Blair Academy in its home opener last Wednesday.

Repeatedly gaining possession of the ball, the sophomore midfielder took off on a series of runs through the Blair defense.

But all that work amounted to a slew of missed chances as Copeland misfired on several shots and none of her passes were converted into goals.

With Stuart clinging to a 1-0 lead at half on an Angela Gallagher goal from a feed by Whitney Charbonneau, Copeland was starting to feel a little snakebit.

“I felt like I could dribble by them and I knew I had teammates to pass to,” said Copeland. “I was a little frustrated.”

A determined Copeland didn’t waste any time breaking through, scoring off a penalty corner 3:16 into the second half. That score opened the floodgates as Copeland added two more goals and Stuart cruised to a 5-0 triumph.

“I wanted that one goal and then when I got that, it sparked more,” said a smiling Copeland.

Being home at Long Field gave the Tartans a spark. “It was our first home game so we were all excited about that,” said Copeland, who was held scoreless last Monday as Stuart fell 5-0 to Lawrenceville to drop to 2-2 on the season.

“I think we played really well together. We connected our passes; we got a lot of shots off. We finished our shots off so I think that was good work.”

With last year’s scoring stars, Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany and Caroline Passano, having graduated, Copeland knows that she has to perform more of the offensive work for the Tartans this season.

“It is tough without them,” said Copeland, referring to Gaudioso-Radvany and Passano.

“It’s different; I am a year older. I worked hard over the summer. I wanted to work really hard so I could come out and show it.”

Stuart head coach Katie Grant liked the good work she got from Copeland in the win over Blair.

“This is definitely the best I have seen Maddie play in the center, she was working both sides,” said Grant

“She showed so much confidence. She was taking people on and making great passes; that’s what we need from a center midfielder. She wants to do it and she does it well.”

With Stuart having lost 8-1 to Shawnee in it previous outing, Grant was pleased with the way her team played well collectively in rebounding from that setback.

“I think the speed that we were playing at today was something that we learned from that,” asserted Grant, who also got a goal from Kristi Hallowell in addition to the tallies by Copeland and Gallagher.

“I saw our girls play at a different level today. I think we were attacking the majority of the game. We got a lot of shots; it was really nice to see them go, go, go. Sometimes we get on our heels and start to drop back. If we can just keep winning that ball back and get it in our possession, that creates a lot more scoring opportunities.”

In Grant’s view, the progress in the win over Blair was a matter of some of Stuart’s new faces taking advantage of their opportunity to get some playing time.

“Other girls are starting to step up, other forwards are being more aggressive,” said Grant, whose team plays at Hill on September 25, hosts George School on September 26, and then plays at Peddie on September 29.

“It took us a couple of games to get to that point because we didn’t have a ton of experience. It took some time for them to realize it is up to me, I am in here so I’ve got to perform. They are doing their job; I think they will only get better. We have a small group but everybody gets involved. In the past we had some players who you hoped could make plays in big moments but I think everybody has to step forward.”

Copeland, for her part, sees things going in the right direction. “I definitely think we are getting on the same page,” maintained Copeland.

“We really work hard in practices and we have been really improving in those practices. It shows on the field in the games.”

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