IN THE ZONE: Stuart Country Day School field hockey player Catherine Martin (No. 33) celebrates after a goal a game earlier this season. Last Friday, sophomore forward Martin chipped in a goal to help Stuart defeat the Solebury School (Pa.) 5-0. The Tartans, who dropped to 6-2 after falling 2-1 in overtime to the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (Pa.) last Monday, host Peddie on October 3 and Mt. St. Mary’s on October 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Catherine Martin came into this fall determined to become an impact player in her sophomore season with the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team.

“I just needed to step up my game,” said Martin, who worked with the USA Field Hockey Futures Program over the summer. “I wanted to show my team that I could be a leader and help everyone else out by improving myself.”

Last week, Martin demonstrated that improvement, scoring the lone goal as Stuart edged local rival Hun School 1-0 on September 25. The tally came with just seconds left in the first half as the players fought through a downpour.

“We all knew where the ball needed to go and that was the back of backboard of the cage,” said Martin.

Generating eight penalty corners in the first half to none for Hun, the Tartans felt the tally was coming.

“We did really well on the field; everyone was spread out,” said Martin. “We were all communicating; everyone was on the same page. Every single time we believe it is going to get into cage.”

Overcoming the weather and Hun was a big plus for Stuart. “It is a great confidence boost,” said Martin. “We knew what we wanted; it was hard but we pushed through.”

With the Tartans getting off to a 6-2 start, they are gaining more and more confidence as the fall unfolds.

“We started the season great,” said Martin. “The freshmen have been a great addition to the team; they are doing so well.”

Reflecting on the win over Hun, Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik tipped her hat to both squads.

“We did a great job considering the conditions,” said Bruvik. “I want to commend both teams, all of the kids that were on the field played through the conditions. Hun is always well coached; every single kid just played hockey.”

Bruvik likes the way Martin has been playing in her sophomore campaign.

“Catherine does not stop; she has done such a good job in terms of finding the back of the goal,” said Bruvik.

“She makes the keeper have to make a good save because she doesn’t blast it right in her line. She is great at changing the line of the ball. On that goal, she got the ball inside and put it in the right hand corner.”

The back three of seniors Priscilla Francois and Breasia Williams along with freshman Adrianna Palmer has been adept as keeping Stuart’s foes away from goal.

“They made some great runs out of the back on well hit balls,” said Bruvik.

“They found their way through and  found some really good lanes. They are very poised back there. Priscilla and Bre are doing that every game and Adrianna is so steady.”

Having moved to goalie from attack, senior Emma Shaw has emerged as a steadying presence for the Tartans.

“We had Emma in the cage for a preseason game and we saw a lot of potential there and she won the job,” said Bruvik.

“I think Emma being in goal sums up the whole team. She is very, very selfless. It comes very naturally to her.”

The squad’s combination of a selfless attitude and relentless play has resulted in its success so far this fall.

“The kids are working together well; they know each other’s games pretty well,” said Bruvik, whose team hosts Peddie on October 3 and Mt. St. Mary’s on October 5.

“The chemistry is great; I don’t just mean the kids on the field, I absolutely mean the entire group. What I am most happy with is the consistency of play. We have not had a letdown. We are maintaining that 60-minute game, which is really hard to do.”

Martin, for her part, believes that Stuart isn’t about to let down.

“We are keeping the intensity up and we are going to be aggressive like we have always been,” said Martin.