Good veteran group leads Medina field hockey

Contributed Photos – Heading the veteran lineup for the Medina field hockey team this season is this quartet of seniors including, from left, Sophia Cardone, Abby Blount, Hannah Kenward and Faith Ann Vanderwalker.

Coming off their best league season in a dozen years (8-3-1) the Medina field hockey team is prepping for the upcoming Niagara-Orleans season led by a group of eight returnees.

The senior quartet of forwards Abby Blount and Hannah Kenward, midfielder Faith Ann Vanderwalker and defender Sophia Cardone head that group which also includes juniors Alex Strong (Midfielder), Sadiqua Muhammad (forward) and Dakota Alexander (Defender) and sophomore Rachel Hill (Defender). Kenward and Vanderwalker both earned N-O All-League Honorable Mention last fall.

The Mustangs heavy graduation losses include first team N-O All-Leaguers Lacey Kenward (Forward/Midfield) and Mary Flores (Midfielder), second team honorees Grace Cook (Midfield) and Abi Neuman (Defender) along with Honorable Mention selections Layna Viloria (Forward) and Tessa Pecoraro (Goalie) and Michaela Erway (Forward).

Kenward had a team high 14 goals and 4 assists last year while Flores had 5 goals and 5 assists, Viloria 5 goals and 1 assist, Cook 4 goals and 1 assist, Erway 3 goals and 2 assists and Neuman 2 goals and 2 assists.

“We have a lot of big shoes to fill,” said Coach Amber Cleaveland. “We hoping to fill the big losses but getting the season in that is the big thing for the kids.”

Medina is scheduled to open the N-O season at defending champion Barker on October 6.

Schedule:

October: 5 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – at Kenmore, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 20 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 22 – Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 24 – Barker, 10 a.m.; 27 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 29 – Kenmore, 5 p.m.; 31 – at Newfane, 12 p.m.

November: 5 – at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.; 7 – at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.