Photo: Bus rides and team vibes. (Photo Credit: Shannon O’Brien)

GMS Field Hockey coach Shannon O’Brien shared, “We have 23 athletes across sixth, seventh and eighth grade. We have been seeing numbers dwindling across many towns and are really hopeful to grow the sport not only in our community but in Maine. We have played three games; we are 0-0-3, we have tied all of our games (scoring in all games).  Julia Shaffer, an eighth grade forward, has scored all of our goals this season (4 in total) with Kenzie Paradis (seventh) and Addie Mango (eighth) with assists. Our goalkeepers Ada White (eighth) and Annabel Welton (seventh) have been doing a phenomenal job with the help of eighth grade defender Améllie Esmiller and newcomer Skylar Mackenzie (seventh).” 

Coach O’Brien added, “With only three weeks left of our season, we are planning to get a number of wins under our belt to close it out. We will plan to practice with the high school JV and varsity team before the season ends and attend their senior game as a group to represent Gorham and keep those traditions alive. Seven out of nine eighth graders from last year are playing at the high school level, Maddie Chaisson making the varsity team and Maci Pratt as a swing player (playing both JV and varsity). We have also had community members donate field hockey sticks to the program so athletes can move into taller sticks as they grow.”

The Field Hockey program has invested time and energy into the middle school level, to help change the trajectory in the community. Varsity head coach Rebecca Manson has worked closely with the middle school coaches for the past decade to ensure skill/player development to not only sustain the program but build excitement around the sport for many years to come.

Coach O’Brien concluded, “Some of the middle school players had experience playing through youth field hockey; however, some are brand new to the sport. There is no need for prior experience.” The program always welcomes enthusiastic newcomers.