'We are truly one working unit': Durfee field hockey has record-setting season in 2022

The Durfee field hockey team faced uncertainty heading into the 2022 season. Their star player, Kathryn Gauvin, had just transferred to Moses Brown School.

Gauvin, a Herald News Player of the Year, scored an area-best and school-record 36 goals and 15 assists as a freshman.

But instead of a letdown, head coach Nicki Henrique received a total team effort across the board from her group.

"We went into this season with the same expectations as last season," Henrique said. "[The kids] did not drop the bar at all when Kathryn transferred. She is a great player, but this team is full of girls who wanted and worked to have a great season. That’s what we’ve accomplished, thus far."

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The Hilltoppers became the first sports team in school history to win a Southeast Conference title outright.

"The team chemistry is truly unmatched this year," Henrique said. "We go into every season intending to win the league.

"This year's team has been more than we could have ever asked for. I know I speak for myself, my coaching staff, and my team when I say we are proud, excited, and truly taking this moment of being the first team to win an SEC title."

Durfee (12-3-3; 6-1-1 in SEC) will turn its attention to the upcoming state tournament, where it will take on Wachusett Regional in the MIAA Division I Round of 32.

Henrique's team began the season looking for a few girls to step up and fill new roles. Toni Freitas, Shakira Cadet and Kacey Curran each stepped up their games, combining for 43 goals.

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Freitas is the team leader with 18 goals and 10 assists. Cadet and Kacey Curran each have 13 goals and four assists.

"The most amazing thing I found about this team is that out of the 16-person roster, nine of them have contributed to the goal scoring," Henrique said. "[We] wanted to make a statement that we were here to play."

Not to be outdone were her midfielders and defenders in front of netminder Kailey Hutchinson, who finished the season with nine shutouts.

Josie Caine and Ellia Delisle have each held the midfield down all season long. Emily Curran, Durfee's center back, is the anchor on defense. She is paired up with teammates Paitynn Botelho and Brooke Macedo. Emily has a goal and eight assists.

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"Emily [Curran] is the kind of player coaches dream of," Henrique said. "She makes it near impossible to get by her and is a huge reason for the shutouts for Hutchinson. They all work so well together."

Emma Gomes and Sydni Duong have stepped into a larger role in the right midfield. Jia Syronn contributed in clutch moments as a fourth forward. Keirsten Anderson and Chloe Pacheco step into defensive roles when the Hilltoppers switch to a four-person defense.

"We have players with and without stats on this team who contribute so much," Henrique said. "Our entire bench does their job when given opportunities. We are truly one working unit."

Henrique's staff consists of her father, Ken Henrique, Amanda Salois, and Victoria Blaisdell.

Now, it's tournament time.

"I couldn’t ask for more for my 10th year as a head coach here," Henrique said. "We go into the D1 state tournament against many heavy hitters. We plan to take everything game-by-game and give it our absolute best like we have all season."

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Durfee High field hockey wins Southeast Conference title