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Left: Former Woodstock Academy field hockey player Samantha Mowry will take the helm of the Centaurs this fall season. Above: Seniors Sophia Petrella, left, and Caroline Harris will be keys to the Centaurs success this season. Photos by Marc Allard.
Mowry returns to Academy in a different role
In 2019, Sam Mowry was wearing a Woodstock Academy field hockey jersey.
Just five years later, she is back on the sidelines — this time in the role of head coach of the Centaurs field hockey team.
“It’s full circle, being on this side of it, telling girls how to play, teaching them the foundations. It’s interesting and I love it a lot,” Mowry said.
In her mind, there was never a question that she would return in some capacity.
Mowry said she left practices at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she played for a year, and came to the Academy to help with practice when she had the time. She also volunteered to help Gerry LaMontagne and Donte Adams when they served as co-head coaches of the program last year.
“I definitely miss playing. I will hop in on practices and, I know, during games, I will probably yell a lot,” Mowry said with a smile. “But just seeing the field from a coach’s perspective rather than a player is totally different,”
Senior Sophia Petrella is familiar with Mowry.
“I’ve known her for just about as long as I’ve been playing field hockey. She’s not tough, she’s a good coach and I like her,” Petrella said.
Fellow senior Caroline Harris has been playing the sport since first grade when she went over to Foley Stadium in Worcester on Sundays to play.
This is her third coach in three years at Woodstock.
“I’ve seen a lot of coaches and it does take a little time to settle in with them. It should be a good season,” Harris said.
The Centaurs finished 3-13 last season and didn’t put the ball in the net often.
Woodstock scored just 15 goals and the team’s leading scorer, Chloe Nason (four goals) has graduated. Grace Pokorny was second with three goals but was first in points with six. Petrella finished with a pair of goals and assists.
“We’re focusing on the offense more than the defense but that’s easier said than done,” Mowry said.
In addition to Petrella, seniors Piper Sabrowski. Maggie Marshall, juniors Audrey MacPhearson, Juliana Stacy, Celine Leffingwell and Georgia Lukachie will also be at attack.
Harris, juniors Pokorney, Abby Converse, and Kaelyn Tremblay and sophomore Liliana Moran will patrol the midfield with senior Corinne LaMontagne and juniors Emily Smock, Chauntel Vandal and Emma Manis in the back.
“Knowing their positions and where on the field they need to be for certain plays and not clumping,” Mowry said when asked what has to go right on the field for the Centaurs to succeed. “I want them to see the full field, not just where the ball is, there is more to a play than just the ball.”
Harris agreed: “I feel like clumping is big thing especially when you have new players because everyone wants to get a touch on the ball. That makes it difficult but we have a couple of girls that are strong and are leadership material and they will take charge and help communication down the field.”
In addition, Mowry also wants the team to better its skill on penalty corners.
“We have to polish them up a bit, maybe score five goals off of them this season,” Mowry said.
Mowry does have a couple of luxuries.
Most of her returning players and even the newcomers bring some experience to the table.
“Overall, they are all at a solid base. The freshmen, except one, have all played in the last week or so whether it be at clinics or in other programs,” Mowry said.
She also has four goalies in camp.
Junior Elizabeth Roberts and sophomore Madison Lavallee have been joined by two newcomers.
“That’s insane,” Mowry said with a laugh. “We only have three sets of goalie gear so we have to swap them out but I’m just surprised that people want to be goalie, especially in this sport.”
The schedule doesn’t get any easier than it was a year ago with Stonington, Fitch, East Lyme and Waterford all having six wins or more last season.
“Conditioning is a top priority. If we’re going to lose, I would rather we not be tired at the end of the game. I want them to keep running,” Mowry said.
Field Hockey Schedule:
Sat., Sept. 9: at. Somers / Rockville, 11 a.m.; Tues., Sept. 12: vs. Stonington, 4:15; Thurs., Sept. 14: vs. NFA, 4; Sat., Sept. 16 at E. Catholic, 11; Fri., Sept. 22, at Waterford, 4:15; Tues., Sept. 26: vs. Killingly, 3:45; Thurs., Sept. 28: at E. Lyme, 6:30; Tues, Oct. 3: vs. Fitch, 4:15; Thurs., Oct. 5: at Stonington, 6:30; Tues., Oct. 10: at NFA, 4; Thurs, Oct. 12: vs. Wethersfield, 4:15; Sat., Oct. 14: vs. Valley Regional, 11; Tues, Oct. 17: vs. Waterford, 4:15; Thurs., Oct. 19: at Killingly, 3; Tues., Oct. 24: vs. E. Lyme, 4;15; Thurs., Oct. 26: at Fitch, 4.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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