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Sussex Tech field hockey has been here before.
Just a year ago, the Lady Ravens entered the season as defending state champions and after capturing the crown again in 2010, Tech will begin 2011 as the title holder.
“We’ll definitely take the same approach as we did before,” longtime head coach Nancy Tribbitt said. “This is a new season, we are champions of last year.”
This season, however, the Ravens figure to have quite a different look. Gone are Player of the Year Maxine Fluharty, who is currently playing for No. 1 ranked University of Maryland, and other All-State talent such as Logan Pavlik, Kelsey Doherty and Abby Atkins. In their stead is a few key returning players on defense and some talented underclassmen that have varsity experience.
“We’re a whole new team and our biggest concern is finding whole new combinations,” Tribbitt said. “We need to get them to gel, because we are still blessed to have a lot of returning talent.”
Returning on the defensive side of the ball are senior goalie Megan Cannon and back fielders Kayla and Hannah Krause. While the offense continues to gel, Tech will rely on its defense even more than normal.
“Our defense knows it’s what gets our offense started,” Tribbitt said. “They are excited and ready for the challenge. One of our team strengths is definitely our enthusiasm.”
The Ravens defense will definitely be challenged this season, as it has scheduled some of the state’s best competition right in the Henlopen Conference. Along with rival Cape Henlopen – which is the lone team to defeat Tech in each of the last two regular seasons only to lose to the Ravens both times in the playoffs – the champs must tackle playoff stalwarts Delmar, Caesar Rodney and several other teams looking to make a statement by knocking off the queens of the hill.
“Every year you see how many Henlopen teams get into the tournament,” Tribbitt said. “Playing against that kind of talent gets us ready for the playoffs.”
The season opens Sept. 9, when the Ravens travel to Red Lion for a 4 p.m. non-conference contest.
Sussex Central
Just a short trip away from Tech, Sussex Central too is readying for the season. The Lady Knights have not experienced success on the level of their Georgetown-area rivals, but things are getting brighter by the season for Central.
Coming off a 2009 campaign in which it did not win a game, Central won four times a season ago and lost five contests by two scores or less. This season, the Knights hope to improve even more and possibly contend for a playoff spot.
Sussex Tech field hockey has been here before.
Just a year ago, the Lady Ravens entered the season as defending state champions and after capturing the crown again in 2010, Tech will begin 2011 as the title holder.
“We’ll definitely take the same approach as we did before,” longtime head coach Nancy Tribbitt said. “This is a new season, we are champions of last year.”
This season, however, the Ravens figure to have quite a different look. Gone are Player of the Year Maxine Fluharty, who is currently playing for No. 1 ranked University of Maryland, and other All-State talent such as Logan Pavlik, Kelsey Doherty and Abby Atkins. In their stead is a few key returning players on defense and some talented underclassmen that have varsity experience.
“We’re a whole new team and our biggest concern is finding whole new combinations,” Tribbitt said. “We need to get them to gel, because we are still blessed to have a lot of returning talent.”
Returning on the defensive side of the ball are senior goalie Megan Cannon and back fielders Kayla and Hannah Krause. While the offense continues to gel, Tech will rely on its defense even more than normal.
“Our defense knows it’s what gets our offense started,” Tribbitt said. “They are excited and ready for the challenge. One of our team strengths is definitely our enthusiasm.”
The Ravens defense will definitely be challenged this season, as it has scheduled some of the state’s best competition right in the Henlopen Conference. Along with rival Cape Henlopen – which is the lone team to defeat Tech in each of the last two regular seasons only to lose to the Ravens both times in the playoffs – the champs must tackle playoff stalwarts Delmar, Caesar Rodney and several other teams looking to make a statement by knocking off the queens of the hill.
“Every year you see how many Henlopen teams get into the tournament,” Tribbitt said. “Playing against that kind of talent gets us ready for the playoffs.”
The season opens Sept. 9, when the Ravens travel to Red Lion for a 4 p.m. non-conference contest.
Sussex Central
Just a short trip away from Tech, Sussex Central too is readying for the season. The Lady Knights have not experienced success on the level of their Georgetown-area rivals, but things are getting brighter by the season for Central.
Coming off a 2009 campaign in which it did not win a game, Central won four times a season ago and lost five contests by two scores or less. This season, the Knights hope to improve even more and possibly contend for a playoff spot.
“We definitely have high expectations, and we have an understanding of what it takes to win,” head coach Terri Tipton said. “There aren’t any set goals as far as winning and losing, we’re just looking to keep getting better and hopefully winning comes with that.”
Only two seniors figure to take the field for the Knights, so they are still a young team. Experience, however, can be overrated at times, at least to Tipton.
“Experience is nice, but it’s winning experience that you want to have,” Tipton said with a laugh. “We had gone several years without winning, so that’s not exactly the experience you want to build on.”
Last season Central was still working on very specific basic skill sets in order to build a program from the base up. This season, the Knights are hoping to take the next step and perfect more reverse stick skills and gain knowledge of playing together as a team.
“Playing teams like Tech and Cape, our girls know the level they have to play at to be top contenders in the state,” Tipton said. “It benefits us to play them, even if we lose, and honestly this year they are probably still going to beat us. But, it makes us better and hopefully we’ll be on their level in a year or two.”
District rival Indian River comes to Central Sept. 13 for both team’s season opener. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
