IN THE NEWS: MSDA Field Hockey Improves from Past Season

CALDWELL – The Mount St. Dominic Academy field hockey team had a promising season.

The Lions finished with a record of 3-10, winning more games than they had in the previous season, when they had a 1-14-1 record.

“Our overall performance has us heading in the right direction,” said head coach Ewen Barnaby. “We placed fourth in our division with three wins and four losses. All those losses were 1-0. One was also in sudden-death overtime.”

The Lions earned the 13th seed in the NJSIAA Field Hockey – North East A tournament. They lost to fourth-seeded Ramsey in the first round, 6-0.

“The highlight of the season was in our state game, where we held high-ranking Ramsey to no score at the end of the first quarter,” Barnaby said. “Also against another program, the coach remarked she planned on giving some other players more playing time, but we were holding our own so she had to play her best players longer than she planned.”

The Lions were led by Brooke Matias, who was the leading scorer with five goals. Allie Palumbo, Lia Tortoriello and Sara Tortoriello each had two goals. Goalkeeper Isabella Lacapra had more than 100 saves, and Catherine Browne had three assists.

A handful of new players also contributed.

“We had four newcomers, and they all made valuable contributions,” Barnaby said. “Sara with two goals, Elizabeth Forsatz with a goal and an assist, and Gia Bujnowski playing almost all the positions we asked her to play admirably.”

The team will lose seniors Louise Adillon, Browne, Kaitlyn Hladik, Victoria Lee, and Lia Tortoriello to graduation.

“My graduating seniors are all angels; they were very dependable, getting the information out to the underclassmen and whatever ‘chores’ needed to be done, they saw that they were done successfully,” the coach said. “They were always ready to assist when called on.”

He is optimistic about next year’s team because of the returning players.

“Although I am going to miss my graduating seniors, my junior class is going to be just as superb. They have all proved themselves to be reliable and are eager to make a more positive contribution to the team’s development.”

Barnaby was pleased with the team’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have a saying, it’s the new norm,” he said. “We made the adjustments to the restrictions caused by COVID-19. “The team was flexible and very cooperative.

“The athletic director, Mr. (Lorenzo) Sozio, and trainer Nico (Natale) were on top of every situation that occurred and gave us accurate information, which helped keep us in line with safety precautions. Also, the support of the parents was outstanding. We could hear them at all the games where fans were allowed.”

The Lions prevailed over Livingston twice, by scores of 3-0 and 3-1, and over Verona, 6-1.

This was Barnaby’s second year as head coach. Jessica Foley also returned as the team’s assistant coach.