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Tigers have difficult path to follow

Sunday, September, 02 By Richard Slate
Staff writer

Every year is different. Each team starts from square one at the beginning of a new season, but it's always difficult to forget past glory.

In 2006, the Ipswich field hockey team completed the regular season undefeated (14-0-5) and won its second straight Cape Ann League Small title in the process. The Tigers also won two games in the Division 2 tournament before falling to powerful Watertown, 3-0, in the semifinals.

"Last year, they were really the dream team," Ipswich coach Diane Mayo said. "There wasn't a hole in the lineup. They scored 60 goals and recorded 11 shutouts."

It was Ipswich's first unbeaten season since 1973. The 60 goals scored easily surpassed the previous team record of 42, and the 16 wins were the most ever in a single season. The key to such a great year?

"It was just how close everyone was on the team, we were like sisters," said senior forward Chelsey Macklin. With the 2007 season about to begin, Mayo and her team will try to find the right balance between embracing the past and moving on.

"Already, the kids have said, 'What are we going to do to be anything close to that?' When you come back, those faces aren't there which takes a minute of adjustment,''' Mayo said.

One of the main ingredients of Ipswich's outstanding year was a top-notch goalie. Carly Silverman started for two years before graduating last spring. In 2006, she picked up 11 shutouts and was named Salem News Player of the Year. It'll take time for this year's Tigers to get used to senior Kati McKinney taking her position in front of the cage.

"At one point in practice the other day, Chelsey went to go shoot and she went, 'Way to go Carly' when the goalie made the save," Mayo said. "Silverman and McKinney have the same stance, mannerisms and same equipment so it was a mistake anyone could have made."

Some other standouts that have graduated last spring included Hannah Greenough and Lauren McCarthy, two other Salem News All-Stars. A left wing, Greenough scored 18 goals (second on the team to Macklin's 19) and had a team-leading 17 assists to help propel the Ipswich offensive attack. McCarthy was the center back, the leader of the defense, who was also the quiet, steadying presence that her teammates could always count on.

For the Tigers, last season's success was somewhat expected in one way, but it also quickly grew beyond anything they could have ever imagined.

"I expected it to be a good year but they blew the doors off those expectations," Mayo stated.

Ipswich had 12 seniors last season out of 18 players on the team. The core of that team had played together since middle school.

"It had to be last year," admitted Mayo. "They wanted to go out with a bang. They made goals at the beginning of the season — make the state tournament and win the Cape Ann Small League."

Early in the season, at practice one day, Mayo asked McCarthy if the team had made one addition to its 2006 wishlist — to complete their schedule undefeated. "I asked her that, she looked at me and said 'yep' then continued doing a drill," Mayo recalled.

A bonus product of having such a motivated team was that Mayo hardly had to do any heavy lifting from the sidelines. Her team was so coachable that she often found herself asking them what they thought a situation called for, rather than telling them.

The feeling was mutual as the players respected Mayo as well. The coach pushed all the right buttons in the unforgettable season.

"She supports all of us and she's really easy-going," Macklin says.

Ipswich enters this season with five seniors on a team of 20. The rest of the team is made up of 10 juniors and five sophomores.

The four captains include Macklin, who returns as the center forward, the fulcrum of the offense. Alicia Didio moves over from right midfield to center midfield, increasing her two-way responsibilities. Lindsey French tore her ACL last spring playing lacrosse so her field hockey season is in doubt. Finally, McKinney takes over the bulk of the goaltending duties.

Year after year, Manchester Essex is the Tigers' fiercest rival in the CAL Small. Ipswich beat them 2-1 in its 2006 regular season finale after tying 0-0 earlier in the season. It was Ipswich's first win against the Hornets since 1998. Mayo didn't hesitate to call that win in Manchester the biggest win of her team's season.

"When we lost to Watertown, everyone was so quiet on the bus ride back," Mayo said. "Then someone said, 'Hey, at least we made it longer than Manchester."'