It was Nov. 3 of last year when Lucy Webster displayed what she is all about on the field hockey field in about five seconds.
Hopewell Valley Central High was in the process of losing to Hackettstown, 7-0, in the North Jersey Group II tournament. The game was already out of reach when a Tigers player launched a shot on goal. Out of nowhere, with no concern for bodily harm, Webster dove in front of the ball to stop it.
“We were losing pretty bad and I was really pushing the team to stay motivated,” Webster said. “I saw the girl on the other team shooting, and I wasn’t in a good position to intercept the shot so I slid across the goal and took the shot to my stomach.”
That singular play displayed Webster’s sheer tenacity and why she is the Bulldogs top defender.
“That just showed the guts she has,” coach Pam Edwards said. “She’s a very strong competitor. She plays with a lot of grit. Some kids may have better skills at times. But when push comes to shove I’d want Lucy out there because she will give it her all.”
Webster will be one of the anchors of a Bulldogs team with potential. Coming off an 11-9 season Hopewell returns leading scorers Jocelyn Nociolo (16 goals, 5 assists), Raina Jablonski (12, 10) and Sierra Chow (7, 12).
“We only had two seniors last year,” Edwards said. “We have Lucy and Jocy returning as seniors and we have some really good juniors in Sierra and Raina. Raina scored our winning goal in our state win (over South Plainfield) and Sierra burns it up on the offensive end. They’ve been a good duo. They’ve started since their freshman year. We also had two strong sophomore goalies coming back with Rowan Brown and Theodora Milchanoski.”
Webster likes the Bulldogs’ combination of youth and experience
“I’m super optimistic for this season because we have a younger team with a lot of returning players,” she said. “They are all talented and dedicated so I think we can continue to grow together as a team to make this season even better than last.”
As the team’s most experienced defender, Lucy will be one of the key pieces to any success HVCHS might have. The senior not only takes on all opposing offensive threats, she takes charge of her team.
“She’s positive out on the field, her communication is like a quarterback back there,” Edwards said. “She does a lot of off-ball talking, telling them where to take the ball, who to pass it to. She’s encouraging, and also lets kids know to carry it and go.
“She’s a great person, she does well in school. She’s a strong role model on and off the field.”
Describing herself as “always a sporty kid who loved playing sports,” Lucy took her mom’s suggestion and began playing field hockey in seventh grade for Timberlane Middle School. She soon joined the Princeton Field Hockey Club and attended several other clinics, while doing off-season training with LeadHER.
Webster has been a varsity starter since her sophomore year, although her position has changed.
“As an underclassman I mostly played on the wing as a midfielder, but I have always had a defensive mindset,” she said. “I think coach Edwards saw this in me and moved me to defense as an upperclassman.”
Last year, Webster played both center-back and sweeper. She also showed some glimpses of offense with four goals and three assists, and was strong at carrying the ball out of the defensive zone and getting Hopewell’s attack moving.
“I love playing a little offense when I can,” she said. “Scoring a goal is always fun, but I love playing defense too.”
In discussing Lucy’s offensive skills, Edwards pointed out that, “last year she would insert the ball on our corners and she did a great job of that. She has a very strong push, very accurate. She worked hard to do that, and also worked hard on aerials. She wants to add things to her game that not everyone thinks about doing. She’s always striving to improve, she doesn’t want to just be one-dimensional.”
Webster participated in a summer league with several Bulldogs teammates that was run by Edwards. She also worked out at LeadHER under the direction of Princeton University’s highly acclaimed assistant coach, Melissa Meccage.
“She’s done a lot of off-season work from last December to now and you can see her improvement,” Edwards said. “I saw her playing this summer, she does shaves now (jabbing the ball away from the opponent), she does a good job of getting that ball away from an attacker. Her stickwork has improved leaps and bounds. It was always pretty good, but she’s definitely at a different level. She’s much more confident with the ball, she knows when to take it.”
She also knows when to stay back and defend, which is her top responsibility. And Webster has certain ideas on what is key to being strong in the back.
“I think being able to read the field and communicate with the rest of the team makes a strong field hockey player,” she said. “Every defender has to be able to make tackles, but the strongest players are able to work with their team through communication and their ability to read the field. Also being able to get your nose dirty and do what is not so glamorous is important.”
Which is all part of the intensity Edwards raves about when it comes to Lucy.
“I think I have always been that way a little bit,” Webster said. “Throughout my sports journey my dad has always pushed me to try my best and never give up. That message has stuck with me and can create that intensity.”
Aside from her natural talent, Webster’s biggest value to the Bulldogs is how she brings the team together and won’t make excuses when things go wrong.
“If a mistake happens she takes ownership and works hard to work through that,” Edwards said. “She’s always been a very high-energy player. She and Jocy really helped with getting the team energized last year. They were instrumental in getting psyche parties together and getting bagels together for the team to have team bonding, which is all important stuff. It’s not just what you do on the field, it’s what you do off it to get your teammates close.”
Webster is very busy off the field and not just with hockey activities. She enjoys crocheting and hiking, and did much of the latter during an August family vacation in Maine. The climate crusader is part of Hopewell’s Youth Environmental Society, which recently went to Washington to lobby for two House resolutions. For good measure, she recently started an area Sunrise Movement Circle, which is an environmental organization working to address climate issues.
She hopes to play club field hockey in college next year and is looking into such schools as Brown, Vermont, Tufts and Michigan, although the latter would kill her dad who — like HVCHS teacher/track coach Aaron Oldfield — is an Ohio State fan.
Wherever Webster ends up, just know she will give it her best shot. A fearless dive in front of a shot last year is all one needs to know about Lucy’s desire to succeed.
Senior Lucy Webster is a key returnee for Hopewell Valley field hockey. (Photo by Mike Schwartz/mssphoto.com.),
