Collegiate Field Hockey: Camaraderie and Culture

    St. Catherine’s and Trinity Episcopal, two local League of Independent Schools powers, were reloading, and the quality of play among local Virginia High School League squads was improving.
    “It’s always nice to hear (the ranking),” she said, “and we feel like we should be in the top rung, but we definitely knew we’d have tough competition.
    “St. Catherine’s had more people back. They have good athletes, a lot of speed, and good technique, and they’re really well coached. 
    “Any time we play them or Trinity, it could go either way.  It’s a lot tougher competition out there than what the paper says.”
    With the LIS and state tournaments approaching, the Cougars stand 13-4 after handing Virginia High School League power Tabb (15-1) its first loss of the season yesterday.
    They’ve achieved their success thanks, in part, to the leadership of senior captains Sydney Cardozo, Brooks Doxey, and Dodi Allocca, each of whom plays defense but moves to the offensive end to handle penalty corners.
     Cardozo is a Notre Dame lacrosse recruit who starts at left back. Doxey (center back) and Allocca (sweeper) have committed to Wake Forest and Davidson, respectively, for field hockey.
    Libba Wharton, who will play hockey at Appalachian State next year, plays right back.
    Campbell Brewer, a junior who has committed to Dartmouth for lacrosse, is the goal keeper.
    “Then, we have a bunch of kids with nice skills who are great athletes,” said Doxey, who has coached hockey at Collegiate since 1987 and also serves as athletic director.
    “On the offensive end, it’s a little bit of everybody. We don’t do anything fancy-dancy.  If everybody does their jobs, we’ll score goals.
    “Every game, it’s almost like somebody else is coming to the forefront.”
    Brooks Doxey is the Cougars’ leading scorer with 31 points (12 goals, seven assists). Allocca has accrued 29 points (10 goals, nine assists). Brewer has allowed an average of just 1.071 goals per game.
    During Karen Doxey’s tenure, the Cougars have won 18 League of Independent Schools and seven VISAA championships.
    So what has kept the program at such a high level?
    “It’s a legacy of group after group after group,” she explained.
    “It’s the camaraderie, the culture.  The older kids take the younger kids under their wings.  They love being together.  They want to strive for each other. It builds more and more over the season.”
    The strong, loyal coaching staff also helps.
    M.H. Bartzen is a 17-year veteran. 
    “She plays a great role all around,” Doxey continued.  “She really knows how to teach the sport, and she’s got personality galore and really good rapport with the kids.
    “She makes hockey enjoyable.”
    Jenny Lindner, who previously coached at VISAA powerhouse St. Stephen’s-St. Agnes, has worked with the Cougars’ goal keepers and defenders for three seasons.
    “Having that specialized person has made a lot of difference,” Doxey said.  “The kids can really learn all the skills and have someone to focus on them as well.”
    The newest member of the staff is Tori O’Shea, a 2008 Collegiate graduate and two-time T-D player of the year.
    “Some of our kids remember her and idolize her,” Doxey said. “She’s a jack of all trades.
    “Everybody’s out there, taking kids one-on-one, showing them the skills, making things repetitive until they get it.”
    The Cougars’ work with sports performance coaches Will O’Brien and Adam Moss has been invaluable.
    “We do a lot of leg work,” Doxey said. “In hockey, it’s all in your bending down.  Your quads are in that position for long periods of time.  They’re building not only strength but also endurance.
    “You can see the difference as they get stronger and more confident.  This really helps by the end of the season when it really counts.”
    The Cougars have split with Trinity and dropped two close matches to St. Catherine’s
    Historically, though, Doxey’s teams have peaked in championship competition because the total is often greater than the sum of the parts.
    “That’s so true,” she said.  “It’s a team game, and when everybody buys in, when you have to rely on everybody, everybody plays a role.”
                                          -- Weldon Bradshaw