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Guilford Field Hockey Loses 14 Seniors

Much was expected of the Guilford field hockey team's returning senior class. The group of 14 seniors had gone undefeated as freshmen and brought experience and offensive firepower to a team looking to improve on a nine-win 2009 season.

The seniors delivered as the Indians posted a 15-5-0-1 record this year, including beating rival Hand 2-0 on Sept. 20. Guilford won eight of its first 10 games, propelling an appearance in the first-ever Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament. The Indians played in the championship game at home against Hand, but lost to their rivals.

Then in the state tournament, the Indians won their first-round game against New Fairfield before being pitted against SCC foe Branford in the state quarterfinals and falling 2-1.

Guilford scored a season-high nine goals against Westbrook in its first game of the season. The Indians won seven of their games by way of shutout.

Guilford was led by senior captains Katie Jolin and Sam McNight. Jolin led the SCC in scoring with 31 goals, while McNight was the anchor of the Indians' defense.

"[Jolin and McNight] were great role models in and out of school," said Coach Kitty Palmer.

Other seniors on this year's team were Cathryn Mahoney, Katherine Paine, Mackenzie Dostie, Caroline Noonan, Barrett Hollo, Gemma Vardy, Morgan Malamud, Meredith Reiss, and Ellen Kebabian.

Palmer also mentioned the performances of senior three-year-starters Dara Davis, Lindsay Camillo, and Olivia Simpliciano. Jolin was named a Scholar-Athlete and to the All-State and All-SCC teams. Davis was selected Second Team All-State and First Team All-SCC, while Camillo and Leigh Rooney were each named Second Team All-SCC.

Palmer also made headlines herself as she won her 300th game as the coach of the Indians and was also elected to the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame.

Replacing the senior leadership lost this season will go along way towards 2011's success.

"It is hard to replace a 31-goal scorer and other talented seniors, but we hope to build a strong defense and move forward from there," said Palmer.