By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, DigitalSports.com
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Edison coach Ginger White promised she would not change the locks of her house if her daughter, Lauren White, wins her team’s field hockey match Oct. 2.
But it will make an interesting night in the White home, regardless.
Lauren White is in her second year coaching Hayfield, which moved into the National District this summer. Lauren White, who graduated from Edison in 2005, lives at home with her mother, who she played for in high school.
“I’m really proud of what she’s been able to do at Hayfield in such a short time,” said Ginger White, herself a Hayfield grad. “And it makes it more interesting that she lives with me, so I don’t know what we’re going to do — maybe have half orange, half red around the house.
“She’s pretty competitive, I’m pretty competitive. It’ll be a lot of fun. We’ll have a good time on Oct. 2.”
Lauren White actually began her coaching career under her mom for the Eagles, leading the freshmen team for two years before accepting a vacancy in the Hawk program three miles away.
In fact, the younger White coached the current Edison seniors when they were freshmen.
“Everyone is making it into this rivalry thing,” Lauren White said. “And we’re like, ‘Oh, this is crazy.'”
Yorktown is the defending district champion, beating Washington-Lee, 2-1 in overtime, in the National District finals last year. The Patriots return the National District Player of the Year, senior forward Hope Barrazatto, impact winger senior Olivia Shipley and its starting goalkeeper, senior Molly Adair.
Yorktown only graduated one of its three first-team all-region honorees, captain Chrissy Radloff.
Washington-Lee, only an overtime goal away from its own district championship, brings back two of its three members of last year’s all-region team: Molly Dodge, a second-team defender, and Kelsey Clark, a first-team defender. Both are seniors.
The Generals graduate second-team midfielder Rose Dodge. But they are aided by the return of their entire starting defense. Seniors Ann Murray and Margy Duarte both started on last year’s 13-9 team, as did senior keeper Mandy Maggio. Murray’s twin sister, Patricia, will start in the midfield for the second-straight season.
Washington-Lee worked to make strides over the summer, too. The Generals sent 23 girls to team camp at Loch Haven University and, in competition, finished second in the Capital Summer League.
Edison had won three-straight district titles before Yorktown ran the table last season. The Eagles have graduated an increasing number of seniors in each of the previous three years: Seven in the class of 2007, eight in 2008 and nine in last season’s class of 2009. They have 10 seniors on this year’s roster to maintain the trend.
Despite its quantity of seniors, Edison’s defense will be led by a pair of underclassmen, junior keeper Danielle Boyd, who started last year, and sophomore defender Brenna Casey. Headlining those 10 seniors, though, is midfielder Erin Roynane, who needs to step up to account for the graduation of second-team all-region midfielder Julia Fiorio.
Hayfield struggled last season in the Patriot District, but only graduated three seniors. The Hawks return seven starters, including senior forward Meghan Sullivan, senior defender — and captain — Jordan Barber and sophomore midfielder Katie Zatt.
With such low turnover, Hayfield should be aware of what awaits in the National District. Last season, it played Yorktown twice, Stuart, Wakefield, Mount Vernon and Falls Church in out-of-district games.
And the Hawks looked impressive in their preseason triple-header at Oakton Aug. 18. They beat TC Williams, lost to Robinson and tied Oakton. Hayfield could surprise this year.
“Last year was my first year with Hayfield and I think it was all about changing the attitude with the girls,” Lauren White said. “They came in always, like, ‘Oh, well, I think we’re going to lose.’ And you don’t know that. Any given team can beat any other team on any day.
“This season, they’re going to surprise some people. People think they’re going to walk all over us like in years past. But it’s different. It’s a different team and they’re ready for it.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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