Jamestown field hockey team is growing up together

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                       

JAMES CITY – As a former all-conference defender at the College of William and Mary, Christine Watts understands the importance of protecting the final third of the field.

The second-year Jamestown High field hockey coach believes defense will be a key this fall as the Eagles look to return to the regional playoffs.

Seniors Kaylin Evans and Kayla Patterson will anchor the defensive corps for Jamestown this season. “They are extremely strong defenders, who worked well together last year,” Watts said.

Offensively, Maddie Kopfer and Anna Lamm return as the top scoring threats. Kopfer, a verbal commit to the University of Vermont, was an all-conference forward last season for the Eagles. Lamm is another weapon inside the circle.

“Maddie and Anna are both extremely experienced forward and midfield players,” Watts said. “They are going to push the offense to move the ball quick to score those quick goals.”

Watts said the team must find a way to replace the offensive production of Ally Johnson and Morgan Maharty, who graduated last spring. “We have a lot of sophomores and juniors that are returning this year, and that will bring a level of maturity to the field.”

With the majority of the team back from last year, Watts said the experience is evident. “They have looked confident this preseason,” she said. “Their ability to communicate on the field has been leaps and bounds ahead of where it was last year, because they are already comfortable playing with one another.”

The major point of emphasis this season has been finding players that can score on a consistent basis. “This year, we want to work on finishing the ball all the way to the cage,” she said. “I want to work on our attack, especially in the circle, to make sure we capitalize on all our opportunities.”

Watts believes the first step is fundamentals. “Ultimately, I’m most interested in developing each individual player on a personal level,” she said. “Teaching core values, such as discipline and a high work ethic, will allow them to get the most out of what a sport can offer to their high school experience. It also allows them to get out of the season, what they put in.”

For nearly a decade, Jamestown’s field hockey program was the premiere program in the Bay Rivers District. Watts remembers those teams and believes they can get back to those glory days soon.

“I have high expectations of each of them individually to grow as people and players,” she said. “This will feed into how they are able to capitalize on the season.”

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