Page 241 - WHS FH 2014 Memory Book - Megan Cunningham

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Basic Instinct: Wilton's Success Runs Through

Program

By Steve Geoghegan

WILTON -- Some of the names have
changed yet the winning tradition has
continued for the Wilton High field
hockey program.

The Warriors, who will be playing for
a fourth consecutive Class M state
championship against Daniel Hand of
Madison on Saturday, have gone about
defense of their state crown with a
somewhat different cast of characters
this time around yet the expectation is
for them to step up when it's their time, according to 15th-year head coach Deirdre Hynes.

"Each year one of our main concepts is to focus on the basics," she said after practice on Thursday. "That's
across the board -- varsity, JV and freshmen (teams). Sometimes they come in thinking you need to do fancy
things to make varsity but that's not the case. You just need to do the basics well and that was one of our themes
this year because we're so young. Do the basics well and to work, to communicate and to execute your
individual skills properly and that will get you far places. That's the message I've tried to deliver to varsity, JV
and freshman programs."

Hynes used junior forward Katherine Campbell as an example.

Campbell spent some time playing with the JV during the season because Hynes couldn't get her varsity
minutes. The junior did what she had to do to become a better player, Hynes said, and was thrust into the
starting lineup in the second-to-last regular season game and the team hasn't missed a beat with her on the field.
Now Campbell has been a key contributor, scoring a goal in the state quarterfinals and semifinals, to help fuel
Wilton's run back to the finals.

"Her hard work has paid off and that is a great example for all of her teammates," Hynes said.

The senior captains and leaders of the team, forward Meg Cunningham, midfielders Delaney Baxendale and
Kristen Godin and defender Caroline Taverna, also put in their time and effort to make it to the varsity levels at
different points in their careers and they said they have the utmost confidence in the underclassmen and give
them the support they need.

"Coach (Hynes) does a good job of setting the (player) expectations high," Baxendale said. "If people don't