Major challenge ahead for Fox Chapel field hockey team

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 10, 2017 | 7:30 PM

If the Fox Chapel field hockey team hopes to repeat as WPIAL champion, it must plug some big holes.

The Foxes lost four seniors, including starters Meg McCrady and Megan Botos. McCrady, an All-WPIAL and all-state player, is playing at Georgetown.

They also suffered a major loss to injury: all-time leading scorer Abby Pitcairn, who was expected to anchor the midfield.

“That obviously was unexpected and took some time to digest,” Fox Chapel coach Jen McCrady said. “Add that to losing Meg in the midfield and Megan on offense, we definitely have some major holes to fill. That often requires moving people around to find the right combinations. That can take some time.”

On the plus side, McCrady, in her ninth season, has seven starters returning. Senior Grace Knepshield, junior Rebecca Klaas and sophomore Isabella Lagazzi are back on defense, with Lagazzi also seeing some time at midfield.

At midfield, senior Mia Jamiolkowski will be back along with senior forwards Paige Ryan and Katie McIlroy. Junior Marissa Hardiman returns in goal.

Returning letterwinners are sophomores Sloan Rost, Meg Matthis and Bryn Gerlach; juniors Sydney Condron, Kate Goodwin, Courtney Kennedy, Abby Baldauf and Brianna Lucas and seniors Sally Dean and Molly Kelly.

Mathis will be starting on defense along with sophomore Mary Ellis at midfield, sophomores Sloan Rost and Ellie Markel at forward and Baldauf on defense. Freshman midfielder Brooke Ryan also is expected to contribute.

“The strength of this team is speed and experience,” McCrady said. “We have veteran leadership in the backfield, which allows our midfield and forwards to play at a fast pace. We have a high-octane offense, which is difficult to handle. They are supported by a smart, fundamentally sound backfield.”

The Foxes play in WPIAL Class AAA Section 2.

“The section will be strong once again,” McCrady said. “We should be competing for the title with Peters Township, Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon. I understand that Oakland Catholic has a new coach who was a former North Allegheny player, so they could become a factor as well.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel