By Emily Winslow
EAGLE TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Abbey Rouillard is beginning her first season as head coach of the Stevens girls field hockey program, brining on an entirely new coaching staff for the fall 2023 season.
Rouillard, an accomplished Stevens field hockey player herself, competed in college at the University of New England and graduated in 2017. After college she returned to the program that sparked her love for the sport and coached alongside previous head coach, Patty Deschaine, as an assistant ever since.
“Since I started, I fell in love with the game,” said Rouillard. “Being able grow up playing at Stevens and give back to the same program that meant so much to me is important. I’m grateful that I can continue to do something I love and share that with a group of girls who love it as well.”
At the beginning of the 2022 season Deschaine decided it would be her final season coaching the Cardinals, and that she would like Rouillard to take over the program. This gave the team the opportunity to prepare for the following year.
“Most of last season I had more responsibilities,” recalled Rouillard. “That helps to make this year’s transition as smooth as it can be.”
Coach Rouillard has many goals for the upcoming season and wants the athletes to develop on and off the field. Given that high school is a time for personal growth she wants the girls to learn life lessons from the sport of field hockey.
“I would love to have a winning record however my main focus is teaching the girls how to play the game in more than one way,” said Rouillard. “I want them to be able to move fluidly throughout the game and be athletes. They should learn the life lessons that sports can offer. I want to help them to be good people.”
The team will have a core group of returning seniors as well as few of last year’s stand-out freshman. Rising junior, Sarah Wheeler, will be a reliable starting goalie for the program.
“We have four seniors, and they will be very helpful. I also see some leadership younger. We have a good group of sophomores who have taken the summer to improve their skills. They’ve become better players in the off-season, and they will be some big factors for us.”
Rouillard is excited about what the Cardinals can do this year if everyone does their job to prepare and show up at practice ready to get better every day.
“Even though we will be a young team, I wouldn’t underestimate what the girls can do,” said Rouillard. “We have a whole new coaching staff. We are learning who the girls are and how to best help them. We’ve got the potential to go really far if the girls can believe in themselves. If they can have that mindset, we will definitely be a team to watch.”
Rouillard will be bringing on Elyse Scott as junior varsity coach and Maddie Miller as an assistant coach for both teams. The coaching staff is excited to bring a new era for Stevens field hockey.
The Cardinals will kick off the regular season with a home game on Tuesday, Sept. 5 against the Conant Orioles at 4 p.m.
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