Sophomore guides Harwood to undefeated season
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Sophia Lisaius, right, powers down the field with a Woodstock player in close pursuit during the Division II field hockey championship at the University of Vermont. Kyle Martel/Times Argus |
Toolbox
By Pete Hartt Times Argus Staff - Published: November 24, 2008
In the 2008 high school field hockey season one local team rose to the top of the heap as the Harwood Highlanders ran the table all the way to a Division II championship under first-year coach Heidi Hill.
Choosing the 2008 Times Argus Field Hockey Player of the Year was narrowed down quickly then to the top player on what was clearly the best team.
The Highlanders feature an extremely talented group of seniors, but according to local coaches, sophomore Sophia Lisaius was the key cog in the Harwood machine.
"She was who we felt we had to account for," said one opposing coach, while another noted that Lisaius displayed "a skill level and a confidence that, in many players, you don't see until college."
The good news for Hill and the Highlanders' future hopes is that they have two more seasons with the Waitsfield resident, though next year she will have to get by without that strong group of seniors, three of whom joined Lisaius on the Times Argus Field Hockey All-Star Team.
"She's dominating and powerful because of her speed and stick skills, but it's the combination that make her so good," Hill said. "She's very smart and she draws defenders in so she can make the move she wants. She's very much in control and she's worked very hard on her skills. Plus, she has a firecracker of a shot."
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