WOODBURY — Six months ago, the Nonnewaug field hockey team seemingly had no hope for the 2023 season. Eight seniors left for college, leaving the team with doubts that they’d have enough players for the upcoming season. 

But along with the new year came a new coach and an influx of new players.

Janet Crocker, last year’s coach for Woodbury Middle School’s field hockey team, moved up and joined the Chiefs as the new coach.

“It broke my heart to leave the middle school, leaving a team that I loved to come up to the high school,” said Crocker. “I was happy at the middle school, but I knew the girls here at the high school needed help, and I was willing to try and help them out.” 

This year, more than 20 girls signed up for the season, which was exciting for the returning players. 

Players, including senior captain Skylar Palmer, have high hopes for the new season.

“I feel like we could actually win a couple of our games this year and actually score a couple goals,” said Palmer. “We’re actually winning games and we’re really building a sisterhood and trust in our team.”

Last year, Jadyn Heron, now a freshman at Nonnewaug, had Crocker as her coach in middle school. Heron is delighted to keep her coach as she moves up to high school. 

“[I] love Janet; she’s a queen,” Heron said. “I feel like I had someone there with me to guide me and someone who I knew I could talk to about things and to reach out to if I was struggling, and it’s one thing that has stayed the same with Janet.”

The team has started on the right foot winning their first game, 1-0 in overtime over Northwestern on Sept. 12.