Bruton Field Hockey Hoping for Worst-to-First Turnaround

Thursday, September 09, 2010

NEWPORT NEWS – Katelyn McDonnell has a couple of theories to explain Bruton’s turnaround.

The first focuses on new coach Joe Dougherty, whose steely demeanor has helped transform the Panthers into a more disciplined outfit. Yet McDonnell, a junior goalkeeper for the field hockey team, believes a big part of their success started with a pasta dinner on the eve of the season-opener.

Part of the bonding process included having each player bring a dish to senior Gwen Trask’s place. The team outings haven’t stopped.

“Now everybody wants to come to them, where last year we had half the team come,” said McDonnell, who had 14 saves in Bruton’s 3-1 victory on Wednesday at Warwick.

The team that eats together, trains together and hangs together is finally winning together. After claiming just two victories last season, the Panthers are one of the Bay Rivers District’s biggest surprises in field hockey this season with a 4-1 record.

“I’m from Pennsylvania where we stress teamwork, teamwork, teamwork,” said Dougherty, who coached at Walsingham Academy from 2007-08.

Even after falling behind to Warwick (1-4), the Panthers acted as if nothing bad had happened.

Despite getting 17 shots in the first half on Monday, the Panthers didn’t score until sophomore Abby Cole’s shot off a corner play the final seconds of the half.

“This year, even if we’re down, we’re always trying,” said Cole, who scored Bruton’s third goal in the second half on an assist from Nikki Everette. “We don’t give up anymore.”

That’s thanks to Dougherty, a 20-year Navy veteran who served on nuclear submarines. He patrols the sidelines sporting a short haircut and barking out orders like a drill instructor.

“He scares us,” Cole jokes, “… but we like him.”

Before each practice, the team runs 3 miles with the final mile timed by the coach. It’s all meant to toughen up a team that dwelled at the bottom of the district.

A year ago, Bruton gave up 60 goals in 14 games. Through five games this season, the Panthers have only given up three.

Dougherty took last year off from coaching to watch his daughter Sydney finish her senior year at Gloucester as an all-Peninsula District player. Still, he stayed connected to the game as a referee – even working a Bruton game.

“I’ve been watching Bruton the past year,” Dougherty said. “I knew they had good kids with some good athletic ability. The slogan this year is it’s a new beginning. We don’t think about things that have happened in the past.”