Cathy McGuirk conducting practice during 2011 season with her assistant and husband John

Two local field hockey legends, Branford coach Cathy McGuirk and Haddam-Killingworth coach Patsy Kamercia, are about to reach major milestones in their illustrious coaching careers.
McGuirk is 10 wins away from career-win 500 as she enters the season with a 490-101-62-9 career record.
“I have had so much fun and learned so much coaching field hockey,” McGuirk said. “The best part has been all the great kids I have coached and now so many of their daughters.
“Lucky me, not to mention coaching so many years with my best friend and now husband of 45 years (John McGuirk). That’s another milestone.”
Branford opens the season on Tuesday at Southern Connecticut Conference rival Hand at 7 p.m.

Patsy Kamercia

Kamercia, who led her team to the CIAC Class S title last season, is one win away from career-win 400. She enters the season with a 399-159-81 career record.
Last season Kamercia retired after 41 years as an HK physical education teacher and decided to return one more season to coach field hockey to get the milestone.
Kamercia was selected the Register All-Area Field Hockey coach of the year last season and was inducted to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame last November.
Kamercia gets her first crack at No. 400 in the Cougars’ season-opener on Tuesday at home against Canton at 4:15 p.m.

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.

The Connecticut Field Hockey Coaches Association is hosting two all-star games this Thursday at Cheshire High's turf field.

There will be a Junior Select game at 5:30 p.m with top junior field hockey players from across the state competing. At 7 p.m. there will be the annual, Senior All-Star game, which consists of all senior field hockey players who earned Connecticut High School Coaches Association First Team all-state honors for the 2012 season. 

Hamden field hockey coach Tina Bouchard and Haddam-Killingworth coach Patsy Kamercia will be two of the coaches for the Senior game.

Saturday is going to be a big day for Cheshire High sports with the Rams hosting a tripleheader of events.
No. 2 Cheshire hosts No. 7 Hand at 3:30 p.m. in the Southern Connecticut Conference girls' soccer tournament quarterfinals.
No. 1 Cheshire hosts No. 8 Sacred Heart Academy at 3 p.m. in the SCC field hockey tournament quarterfianls.
Cheshire hosts East Haven in a varsity football game at the Rams' turf field at 6:30 p.m.

Hurricane Sandy certainly had its impact on New Haven area high school sports teams, including girls’ swimming and field hockey, forcing cancelations and postponements of practices and games.
One of the hardest hit programs is the Seymour girls’ swim team, which is in the process of preparing for the upcoming Naugatuck Valley League swim and diving championships.
“Most of Seymour is out of power,” Seymour girls’ swim coach Missy Orosz said. “A lot of my team is still stuck in their neighborhoods because several trees are still blocking roads.
The high school is out of power (as of noon Tuesday) so we haven't been in the water since Saturday."
The NVL swim trials are tentatively scheduled to be held on Thursday at Kennedy High in Waterbury at 4 p.m. The diving competition is scheduled for Friday at either Kennedy or Woodland (to be determined Wednesday) at 4 p.m. The NVL swim finals are at Kennedy on Saturday at 4 p.m.
“I am hoping that power is restored soon,” Orosz said. “We might look into our local Ansonia YMCA to snag pool time, but they have no power right now."
Orosz also said NVL League commissioners will update the status of league tournament schedules for all sports on Wednesday.
Like most teams, the Branford girls’ swim team has missed practice time on Monday and today (Tuesday).
“We have missed opportunities to swim yesterday and today but I am hopeful that we can squeeze in a practice tomorrow (Wednesday),” Branford girls’ swim coach Scott Butler said. “I hope that the missed workouts will minimally affect those of us training for states (CIAC Class L-M-S and State Open meets)."
Amity girls’ swim coach Todd Rainey said, “We missed practice on Monday and Tuesday. I do believe that the pool at Orange (Orange Community Pool) does have power. We hope to be back in the water tomorrow but we'll have to wait and see about any school closure.
“The timing of this storm was not ideal in terms of SCC Championship preparation, but we'll do the best we can. It certainly could have been much worse."
The Lauralton Hall field hockey team has been trying to reschedule its last regular season game with Amity since it has seeding implications for the post season.
“We are still trying to play our regular season game versus Amity,” Lauralton Hall coach Theresa Napolitano said. “We need to schedule this before either team plays a league playoff game. Thursday is the last day to get it in (for the CIAC to count it toward postseason seeding).
“The SWC (South-West Conference) tournament starts with the semifinal round Thursday but if we end up with a conflict and play Amity that day, then that semifinal game may be pushed to another day. Barring any field or school issues we will try to schedule the Amity game for tomorrow (Wednesday)."

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.

A dozen local players will be competing in the prestigious National Field Hockey Festival Invitational Tournament for Under-16, Under-19, Women’s and Mixed divisions at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. today through Sunday.
Kirsten Kilburn, Bailey McGinnis. Michelle Caprio and Danielle Hottin of North Branford, Erica McLean and Grace Nardella of Branford, Emily Hague and Alyssa Hague of Cheshire, Marlee Teplitzky of Hamden Hall, Caroline Labriola and Emily Krane of Westbrook, and Amanda Johannes of Haddam-Killingworth will be competing for the Tsunami Connecticut team in the Under-19 division.
More than 3,500 athletes from the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean are expected to compete on over 270 teams (all divisions combined).

http://www.casciac.org/

The field hockey pairings for the CIAC Class L, M and S tournaments were released today with several local teams - especially in M and S - having a good shot to make a run at a title.

No. 1 seed Granby (16-0) is the one to beat in Class S. But No. 2 North Branford (15-1) and No. 6 Haddam-Killingworth (11-3-1-1) have their strengths. At least one could reach the final since both potentially could meet in the semifinals.

In Class M, No. 2 Darien (15-0) has been on a roll with three titles the last three seasons and is the one to beat. But the Southern Connecticut Conference is expected to make an impact with the depth and talent on No. 3 Branford (13-1-0-2), No. 6 Guilford (12-3-0-1) and No. 8 Hand (11-4-1). The Hornets and Indians would meet in the quarterfinals if they earn first round wins and the winner would likely face Darien in the semifinals. If Hand gets by No. 9 Farmington (11-4-1) in the first round the Tigers would face No. 1 seed Nonnewaug (16-0) in the quarterfinals.

In Class L, No. 1 Glastonbury (15-0-0-1), No. 2 Pomperaug (13-1-1-1) and No. 3 Simsbury (13-2) are the favorites. No. 7 Cheshire (10-4-1-1) likely has the best chance of any local team to advance but the Rams have a rough road ahead. If the Rams win their first round game they will likely face Pomperaug in the quarterfinals and if the Rams win that game would likely have to face Simsbury in the semifinals. Both games would be on the road.

No. 8 Mercy (9-4-1-1) and No. 9 Hamden (9-5-0-2) are other local teams in L and one of them is guaranteed to advance to the quarterfinals. Hamden is at Mercy for a first round game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The winner is expected to get Glastonbury in the quarterfinals. Ouch!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE NEW HAVEN AREA TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Like many high school field hockey teams in the New Haven area, Lyman Hall is doing its part for breast cancer awareness and fundraising throughout the month of October.
"We are taking donations for Play 4 the Cure all month long," Lyman Hall coach Tania Lawrence said. "Last year we began an ad book for local businesses too. It was very successful and we are doing it again this year. One hundred percent of the profits go to Play 4 the Cure foundation."
Lyman Hall will play its Play 4 the Cure game on Oct. 27 when it hosts SCC foe Mercy at 7 p.m. The team will have a bake sale, sell t-shirts and raffle off prizes during the game with proceeds going to the cause.
"Last year we raised $1,200 and we hope to match or beat that amount," Lawrence said.
For a related story, go to:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/10/14/sports/high_school/doc4cb738fad013d170707419.txt

http://www.southernconnecticutconference.org/

Persistence certainly pays off.
For years Southern Connecticut Conference commissioner Al Carbone and some SCC athletic directors, including SCC field hockey chairman Todd Petronio of North Haven, have been pushing for an SCC field hockey postseason tournament.
The SCC coaches, athletic directors and the league’s Board of Governors have finally all got on the same page to approve the first SCC field hockey tournament in the 17 years the SCC has been around.
“I think this is great,” Carbone said. “It aligns the SCC with the other strong field hockey leagues (FCIAC, SWC, CCC) that also have postseason tournaments.
“As a result, hopefully this tournament will gives our teams a little burst in order to regian some of the prominence we’ve seen our teams have in the past in the state tournament. The SCC hasn’t won a state title in field hockey since 2005 (Branford, Class M).”
The sport becomes the 24th SCC sport to host a postseason tournament with football and Division I ice hockey the only sports that don’t have an SCC tournament (there is a D-II SCC tournament).
“I was a little surprised the coaches went with an eight-team field for the tournament,” Carbone said. “But we’re all set with the scheduling with the last week of the regular season blocked off.”
There are 11 field hockey teams in the SCC and top eight teams will advance to the tournament. Quarterfinals are scheduled for Nov. 2, semifinals on Nov. 4 and the championship game on Nov. 6. Hand, coached by Sue Leckey, is the defending SCC regular-season champ and has won or shared the title three of the last four years. Branford, coached by Cathy McGuirk, has won the most regular season titles with nine with the last coming in 2008.