Haddam-Killingworth field hockey coach Patsy Kamercia

When Patsy Kamercia retired as physical education teacher after 41 years, there was speculation the founder of the storied field hockey program would retire as the Cougars' coach as well.
On Wednesday Kamercia put that speculation to rest.
"I'm coming back to coach field hockey at HK," Kamerica said. "I almost have to come back with one win shy of (career win) 400."
Last season, Kamercia finished her 36th season as head coach and led the Cougars (17-2-1) to their third CIAC Class S state championship with a 2-0 win over Stonington. The Cougars also won the Shoreline Conference regular-season title with an 8-1-1 record.
For her effort she was named Register All-Area Field Hockey Coach of the Year last season.
Kamercia has a 399-159-81 career record. She was also selected Area Coach of the Year in 2005, was inducted to the CHSCA Hall of Fame last November and in 2009 was a finalist for national coach of the year.
The 2012 championship was H-K’s second outright state title, and third including a shared title with Lewis Mills in 2005. H-K’s previous outright state title was in 1994. The Cougars finished the 2012 season on a 12-game winning streak.

Patsy Kamercia, who started the Haddam-Killingworth field hockey program, enters her 36th season as head coach this season.
Kamercia has a 382-157-80-4 career record and has led HK teams to six CIAC Class S championship games and a Class M championship game in 1993. The Cougars have two state titles, both in Class S, in 1994 and 2005 (co-champs with Lewis Mills).
HK finished 11-5-1-1 last season and has a solid nucleus of seven returning players this season.
"Our team is focused and determined with a great work ethic and great attitude this season," Kamercia said.

The CIAC has released its pairings for the girls' lacrosse Class L, M and S tournaments and some local New Haven area teams appear poised to make a long post season run.
In Class L, Cheshire is the No. 1 seed and has the talent and depth to get to the championship game this season led on offense by Maria Blois, Emma Farrel, Kathleen Kallbian and Alyssa Hague among others. But it won't be easy for the Rams in the upper bracket who could potentially face No. 8 Ridgefield in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Staples in the semifinals. No. 2 Newtown and No. 3 Greenwich are the top challengers in the lower bracket.
In Class M, defending champion Darien, the No. 9 seed, is the is the team to beat. The Blue Wave have five losses but they are the result of one of the toughest schedules in girls lacrosse in the state.
No. 1 New Canaan, No. 3 Wilton and No. 6 Barlow are the top challengers for the Blue Wave.
Hand, led by goalie Christy Forrest, and Guilford, led by high scoring Riley Smith and Leigh Rooney, have the talent to advance in Class M. But Hand would have to get by New Canaan and Darien just to get to the semifinals.
In Class S, Shoreline Conference powers No. 1 Haddam-Killingworth and No. 12 North Branford have a solid shot to get to the championship game, but only one could do it since both would potentially meet in the semifinals. The Cougars are led on offense by Kiley Anderson and the Thunderbirds are led by high-scoring Emmy Dulak.
The top challengers for the Shoreline teams are No. 2 Granby and No. 3 Weston.