JUNIOR MARY MAJESKI is NR’s leading returning scorer from last season when she had five goals and six assists in 10 games. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — For the second year in a row last fall, the North Reading High field hockey team had a winning record as they finished 5-3-2. With 16 points, Newburyport won the Cape Ann League Kinney division going 8-2 while the Hornets were second with 12 points.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no state or league tournament at the end of the season.
Eight seniors from that team graduated including co-captains Ava Czarnota (forward) and Rees Lord (midfielder) who were both CAL First Team All-Stars. Emma Borland (goalie) and Paige Thibodeau (forward) were Second Team All-Stars.
When fall practice started on Aug. 23, fifth-year head coach Andrea Slaven did welcome back 10 veterans but only four of them had consistent playing time last year.
“We were playing 7-on-7 last year with the rule changes so many players were not able to get in there,” explained Slaven, who was named the CAL Kinney Division Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
This fall, the rules for field hockey will be back to normal with 11-on-11 play and masks will not be required.
The seniors back are Emily Sonia (defense), Emma Mini (goalie), Kiersten Fortin (forward) and Lindsay Keller (forward/midfield)
Keller, who will not be able to play due to an ACL injury, will be around the team all year for moral support.
Mary Majeski (forward), Ali Labb (midfield/forward), Olivia Dang (forward/midfield), and Karleigh Budny (midfielder) are the juniors back.
Majeski was second on the team in scoring last year as she had five goals and six assists.
The three sophomores returning are Makenna Lord (defense), Keely Hannon (forward) and Charlotte McLaughlin (forward).
“What helps up this year is that we got an eight-grade waiver last year so we have 13 freshmen who have a little more experience,” said Slaven. “We also have eight eighth-graders out this season.”
While the varsity team has a lot of inexperience on the field, they did get time on the lower levels coming into the season.
The Hornets will have a 16-player varsity roster along with a 16-player junior varsity roster.
North Reading will play an 18-game regular season schedule. They will play the CAL Kinney schools twice and the CAL Baker teams once for 15 league games overall.
The three non-league games are against Malden, Danvers and Bishop Fenwick.
On Aug. 28, they scrimmaged Hamilton-Wenham and Manchester-Essex at Lynnfield High. The Hornets hosted Georgetown in another preseason game on Sept. 1.
On Saturday (Sept. 4), they play in a Jamboree in Lexington in their final tune-up for the regular season.
The 2021 campaign will begin on Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m. when they host Pentucket.
