All-Tidewater field hockey: Hiltz’s new position was a hit

Brooke Hiltz watched from the top of the scoring circle as a teammate charged to the goal and smacked in a little insurance during the Group AAA state championship match.

It was a view unfamiliar to the First Colonial junior at the beginning of the season, but one she had grown more used to.

After spending nearly her entire field hockey life in front of the cage, driving opposing defenses crazy with her ability to score, Hiltz had been moved mid-season to the center midfield position.

Hiltz approached the move with optimism, showing off a personality trait many consider more important than her hockey skills.

“It was what was best for the team,” said Hiltz, the 2011 All-Tidewater Player of the Year. “I had to learn more about playing defense and I sometimes struggled to remember to get back when the other team went on attack.

“But I think it’s a better position for me.”

It definitely was better for the Patriots. Spencer Tossone moved to left midfield to strengthen the defense. And Katelyn Adkins went from the left wing into Hiltz’s old position at center forward.

Hiltz adjusted from the forward line – a position that thinks attack and offense – to a center midfield spot charged with quarterbacking that attack, but, almost as important, getting back quickly to spearhead the defense.

The result was a team that played with more intensity on both sides of the field – especially on offense where more players got in on the scoring as Hiltz pushed the attack forward.

First Colonial finished 22-1, won its first state title, and outscored opponents 183-19 – a goal total that ranks second in the nation, according to topofthecircle.com, where the Patriots finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally.

“I miss scoring so much to some extent, but we can’t score if we can’t push forward,” Hiltz said. “We’ve got a lot of girls on this team that can score. So it didn’t bother me at all.”

Hiltz finished the season with 29 goals and 27 assists. She joins her sister Kaitlyn – who played for a state championship team at Cox – as an All-Tidewater Player of the Year.

“Brooke is the ultimate playmaker,” Patriots coach Beanie Schleicher said. “She has tremendous vision and ball-handling skills. She’s comfortable in any pressure situation ... never rattles, and makes her teammates look better.

“She had a fantastic young supporting cast that made her and the move work.”

A member of the U.S. National U17 team, Hiltz is looking forward to the opportunity to repeat. Nearly the entire First Colonial squad returns next season.

“We’re only losing three people to graduation. Three very important people, but only three. We’ll definitely miss them ... more than they probably know,”
said Hiltz, who loves to surf when she has the chance. “But the future for us next season is exciting.”

And fun to watch from the midfield.

Brooke Hiltz | First Colonial
All-Tidewater Player of the Year

•  Junior midfielder
•  29 goals and 27 assists
• First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region
• Member of the U.S. National U17 team

Jamee Albright | Lakeland

• Sophomore midfielder
• 10 goals and 11 assists
• Southeastern District Player of the Year and first team All-Eastern Region

Kelly Chesson | First Colonial

•  Junior forward
•  30 goals and 16 assists
• First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region

Cameron Daniels | Cox

• Senior defender
• 9 goals and 8 assists
• First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region
• Committed to Ball State

Casey DiNardo | Cox

•  Senior midfielder
•  35 goals and 20 assists
•  Beach District and Eastern Region Player of the Year
•  Member of the U.S. National U19 team
•  Committed to North Carolina

DElaney Leathers | Ocean Lakes

•  Junior midfielder
• 16 goals and 12 assists
• First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region. n Member of the U.S. National U17 team
• Committed to Maryland

Emily Leonard | First Colonial

•  Senior defender
•  9 goals and 15 assists
•  First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region
•  Committed to Longwood

Maddy Moore | Maury

•  Senior midfielder
•  3 goals and 11 assists
•  Eastern District Player of the Year and first team All-Eastern Region
• Committed to William and Mary

Heidi Pomposini | Ocean Lakes

• Senior goalkeeper
• Recorded eight shutouts and saved 88 percent of shots faced
• First team All-Beach District and All-Eastern Region

Riley Tata | Norfolk Academy

• Junior forward
• 44 goals and 7 assists
• First team All-Tidewater Conference and first team All-VISAA Division I

 
Stephanie White | Cape Henry

• Senior midfielder
• 16 goals and 10 assists
• All-VISAA Division II state Player of the Year and All-Tidewater Conference Player of the Year
• Committed to Ohio State

Second team
Alexis Albright, Lakeland, sophomore defender

Megan Duer, Grassfield, senior goalkeeper

Kendall Farino, Princess Anne, senior midfielder

Hannah Hall, Ocean Lakes, sophomore forward

Dani Johnson, Norfolk Academy, senior midfielder

Marianna Parker, Kellam, senior forward

Summer Parker, Lakeland, sophomore forward

Mallory Roach, Cox, junior midfielder

Ellen Ross, First Colonial, junior defender

Erin Scherrer, Cape Henry, freshman midfielder

Kristin Vick, Lakeland, sophomore defender