Another Murray Milestone: Doherty's Hannah Murray notches 100th career point

For the record, Doherty High junior Hannah Murray plays field hockey for all the right reasons, headlined by the fact that she enjoys competing with her friends. Stats and accolades are not high priorities for Murray, a team-first athlete committed to winning.

That said, Murray, among other things, a T&G Super Team member in 2021 (along with teammates Elle, her older sister, and Maggie Dowd) was admittedly thrilled last Friday when she hit the 100-point mark for her high school career during an 8-0 victory over South High. Murray needed four points going into the game and she reached the century mark with a bang, collecting three goals and an assist.

"I was a little nervous about the milestone – I began the game with 96 points so I had to score four," Murray said. "During the game, I was at 99 for a while and I started thinking about it, and I kept missing all my shots. A couple hit the post and a couple hit a girl's feet. I was anxious, but I finally got the point on a goal."

MORE: Updated Central Mass. field hockey scoring, goalie leaders

"I was halfway in the circle when I scored it, and there were players around me," Murray added. "It was good to get it over with. And we won the game, too. Now, we move on."

Murray has been playing field hockey since the seventh grade and was inspired by Elle (now playing at Assumption University as a freshman). Besides high school, Murray enjoys competing in field hockey with the Cape Ann Field Hockey Club, run by Chris Pothier. Murray also plays softball for Doherty, but field hockey is her main game.

"I just like playing field hockey," Murray said. "When I was growing up, I played ice hockey, so it transitioned pretty well. Of course, my sister played, and I also played Worcester Field Hockey with Meg (Doherty coach Meg Brunelle, who runs the program). So, I've always been around field hockey."

Murray plays forward and finds herself on top of the field most of the time. This presents prime offensive opportunities and Murray, with help from her midfielders, takes advantage of all the openings. Murray is available to help her midfielders out, too, playing back when necessary (defensively). Skill-wise, Murray gets by with speed and strength, the latter coming in handy when hard hit shots are launched.

Elle Murray finished her high school career with 144 points (87 goals, 57 assists). Murray thinks about her sister's point total and smiles when asked about making a run at the mark.

"One point at a time, we'll see," she laughed. "Right now, I'm just concentrating on the season - we're having fun and winning games," Murray said. "The field hockey is great here. We're all close and we hang out together. It's a great environment."

Doherty expecting to make a run

Despite losing nine seniors, the Highlanders, 14-3-2 in 2021, have essentially reloaded, starting the season with five straight wins. Brunelle likes what she sees from a team where everyone contributes, with different stars each game.

"This year, I have a really special group of seniors, girls who came in as freshman, my first season coaching Doherty," Brunelle said. "We were strong that year and I think those freshmen really looked up to the senior leadership. Then COVID hit (sophomore season) and changed everything, and they made the most of it, working hard. Their junior year (last season), we've got a heavy load of seniors. Nine of our 11 starters were seniors."

"The seniors we have now were always ready to come in and play last year and take over for the top caliber players," Brunelle added. "Now, it's their turn, they're seniors leading younger kids. All the hard work and adapting that these seniors have had to go through during their roller coaster four years has made them unbelievable leaders, true role models."

Senior captains Taylor Gazaille, Clare Murray, Grace Quinn, Emma Brunelle, Taegan Covino and Jordan Gagliastro enjoy getting out on the field and watching the team win and grow. The field hockey ride at Doherty has been special, the captains agreed.

"Coming in as a freshman was really nerve-wracking, especially knowing that we had a really strong team," center midfielder Gazaille said. "But the seniors and upperclassmen were very welcoming to the younger players. We all looked up to them and we wanted to be like them. Now we're seniors and we feel that it's important for us to be good role models."

"One thing about Doherty is that it's a very tight-knit group of girls and that makes it special," defender/center back Murray said. "Playing with your friends is great. And we're young, so we know how important it is to make the younger players feel welcome and also make sure they're having fun. So far, so good."

"This season, our games have been good – we work well as a team and we pass it around," sweeper Quinn said. "Everyone scores. We all cheer for each other. And we're together out there. We transition well from defense to offense. The effort is always there. This is impressive for a team that lost nine seniors."

"Our team is young, but we're coming along," defender Emma Brunelle said. "We have a strong schedule, and every game is important. We've got Quaboag and Nipmuc this week, and both games are on grass. That will be tough. Then we've got big games against teams like Auburn, Wachusett, and Shrewsbury. It should be fun. I love it."

"We run a lot, so we're definitely in good shape and our conditioning is good," left back Covino said. "One thing coach stresses is coming to practice with something on your mind that you want to emphasize. Something that you can work on. Something that will make you better. It's all fun. You want to play field hockey at Doherty."

"An interesting fact about field hockey is you don't have to start at a particular age," left forward Gagliastro said. "I didn't start until eighth grade, and I had a great group of friends who encouraged me. I'm so thankful for that. I was involved in a great program at Forest Grove and that brings you into Doherty and your freshman year. Now I'm a senior and I'm looking to play in college, and this will open up a whole new world for me. Senior year, I have to play my best. It's my last year here, but it's not my last year playing field hockey."

Contact Craig Holt at sports@telegram.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Another Murray Milestone: Doherty's Hannah Murray notches 100th career point