Immediate Impact

Family ties helped Cavanagh to big debut; sophomore ready for more

Posted 8/26/14

The Pilgrim field hockey team has been built largely on players without experience throughout the years, as the sport isn’t played at the youth level around the city of Warwick.

Some players …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
Immediate Impact

Family ties helped Cavanagh to big debut; sophomore ready for more

Posted

The Pilgrim field hockey team has been built largely on players without experience throughout the years, as the sport isn’t played at the youth level around the city of Warwick.

Some players need a little time to pick it up, learning the ins and outs of a game they’ve never tried before. Others flourish, almost instantly.

Paula Cavanagh was part of the latter group. Now, as a sophomore, she has experience to go with the talent, and she – and the Patriots – are expecting a big step forward and a big season because of it.

“Last year, it was more of, I just got out there and I started playing,” Cavanagh said. “Now, (Pilgrim head coach Steph Shields) has showed me easier ways to get around and easier ways to make the ball move up the field faster. It’s not easy to have just one player move it down, it’s easier if you have teammates to help.”

In season number two, it’s the little things that Cavanagh is focusing on, a luxury she has now that she has already proven she can play at the high school level. Last year, Pilgrim scored seven goals all season, and Cavanagh was responsible for each and every one of them.

She’ll likely be the team’s leading scorer again, or at least one of them, but she’ll do it in a more efficient way, and her teammates should reap the benefits.

“She’s playing smarter already,” Shields said. “You can see that. And in the conversations that we have, she’s recognizing a lot more opportunities. Like, ‘If I had done this, this could have happened.’ She’s understanding the game itself more after a year.”

Cavanagh’s immediate success is plenty understandable given her family background. Her sister, Chrissy, is currently a senior on the Pilgrim squad and is one of the team’s top players. Another one of her sisters, Susie, was a star a few years ago for the Pats, making All-State during her time at Pilgrim.

Chrissy and Susie helped give Paula a crash course in the game before she started playing last year. Chrissy is on the field often at the same time as Paula, which has also made a difference in Paula’s development.

“They helped me a little bit, just teaching me how to stick handle and dribble the ball,” Cavanagh said. “It was a big help.”

Yet, the education started long before that, as Paula watched Susie star on the field even earlier. That put the idea in her mind to play, and when she reached high school there was no doubt she was ready to do it.

Cavanagh hasn’t quite reached Susie’s level just yet, but she’s on the right track.

“There’s definitely some similarities there,” Shields said. “I think it goes back to hockey, having that hockey experience. A lot of similarities there.”

As Shields said, the similarities go beyond field hockey. Susie was a hockey star as well, who played on the Pilgrim boys’ team and for the women’s team at the University of Connecticut. Paula Cavanagh played and saw some significant time for the state champion Warwick girls’ co-op hockey team this past winter.

“She’s been someone who I’ve looked up to since I’ve been younger,” Paula said of Susie. “We’ve played a lot of the same sports with hockey and field hockey, and even golf. She’s just a huge role model for me.”

In the spring season, Cavanagh also played and stood out for the varsity lacrosse team. That team reached the Division III state finals, with Cavanagh serving as one of the team’s top offensive options.

In three sports during her brief time in high school, she’s already made a name for herself. It’s all intertwined.

“Going back this year – I played lacrosse and I also played hockey,” Cavanagh said. “Stick-handling, I got even better. I move faster. Then lacrosse, being able to look up more. Lacrosse is a huge sport, where if you don’t look up you won’t be able to throw the ball, catch the ball. It made me open my eyes more to the game.”

Even her coach can see the inter-sport connection.

“I think she’s going to help us immensely,” Shields said. “Having the hockey experience behind her helps. That’s I think a lot of what she draws on. I think we’re looking at more of the same from her.”

Pilgrim played in the Injury Fund this past Saturday, and the team produced three goals. Oddly enough, none of them came off the stick of Cavanagh, their sophomore star.

However, that showcased her new mindset. She assisted on two of the goals that were scored by Loren Saucier, highlighting her emphasis on getting teammates involved. If she’s able to continually incorporate that into her game, while also scoring at a fairly high rate, her game, and the Pats’ chances, will soar.

“Sometimes last year she had that pressure, that she had to do a lot,” Shields said. “Hopefully this year with other girls that are experienced, I think that Paula is going to have a lot of assists as well.”

The future is bright all around, as Pilgrim has moved down to Division II this year after four years of struggles in Division I. The Pats are hoping to take advantage of their new place in the field hockey landscape.

Cavanagh is hoping to take advantage too. With family success, and success already in lacrosse and ice hockey, field hockey success is next on the list.

“Our first goal is to win a couple games and build on it,” Cavanagh said. “But after meeting that goal, we want to move on to the next goal and the next goal. The big goal is to get a championship. Definitely, I think we have a strong enough team to accomplish it.”

Given her track record of success, it wouldn’t be crazy.

“This year, it’s going to be a lot more fun,” Cavanagh said. “It’s going to be very competitive.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here