The 2022 season was one that saw the Greenwich High School varsity field hockey team make its mark in the FCIAC, registering a record of 10-3-0-1 in the conference during the regular season, while giving rivals such as Darien, New Canaan, Staples and Ridgefield all they could handle.

This year, the Cardinals are intent on having those close games against their rivals result in victories and contend for both the FCIAC and state titles.

“I think we will be super competitive with everybody,” Greenwich head coach Megan Wax said. “We are in a strong league, so our goal is to win FCIACs and to win states and we think that we can do it if we buckle down and fix the small things, as well as executing the game plans. Everybody in our league is really tough.”

Greenwich finished its 2022 season with an overall record of 13-5-0-1, while qualifying for the FCIAC and CIAC Class L tournaments. Seeded sixth, Greenwich was defeated by third-seeded Staples, 2-0, in the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals one season ago. The Cardinals then opened the Class L Tournament last season with a 7-0 home victory against Conard, before being edged by top-seeded Darien in the quarterfinals, 4-2.

“We had a great season last year,” Wax said. “We had four seniors, who led us all throughout the season. Our slogan last year was start-to-finish and they wanted to make sure of that, from the get-go, we were putting forth our best effort.”

The Cardinals will be led by four senior captains this fall. Caroline Babb, Liv Caminiti, Aly Janssen and Kelly Janssen are the Cardinals’ 2023 senior captains. Greenwich’s senior captains have each played on the varsity squad for several seasons. Kelly Janssen also served as one of the Cards’ captains last fall. She is the team’s starting goalie, a position she excelled at in 2022.

“I’m super excited, I think we have talent at all sides of the field,” Kelly Janssen said. “We have some younger players, who will help develop our team for a couple of years to come. We also have returning players – quite a lot – and we are really excited.”

Greenwich’s third season starting goalie has committed to play field hockey at Hamilton College.

“Kelly is an awesome voice in the backfield,” Wax noted. “She’s relentless with her work ethic, she’s always pushing herself. We love our goalies, because they have such a good vantage point and they are great communicators in the game. Kelly makes some unbelievable saves.”

Aly Janssen is also beginning her third season on the varsity squad with her twin sister Kelly.

“It’s really cool being on the team with my sister,” Aly Janssen said. “It’s awesome I get to share being a captain together with her. We work very well together.”

The forward position on the right side is where Aly Janssen will look to ignite Greenwich’s offense.

“Aly has been growing exponentially and she going to be a dominant, dominant player on the forward line,” Wax said. “Her stick skills and speed have really taken off between last year and this year I’m excited to see what she does.”

Aly Janssen will continue her field hockey career at Trinity College.

Babb, an FCIAC All-West Team selection last season, returns as one of the Cardinals key midfielders.

“It feels really great to be a captain,” Babb said. “I’m honored that my team trusted me to take on this role and it’s been really fun to work with the other girls. All four of us are really close. We’ve had a great time working together to make the team as strong as possible.”

The Cardinals open their 2023 campaign on Sept. 8 with a home game against Danbury at 4:30 p.m.

“So far, even though it’s really early in the season, everyone seems really dedicated to working hard and I’m really proud to be captain of the team that wants it as badly as us captains do,” Babb said.

Indeed, Babb plays several pivotal roles on the team.

“She runs our midfield and third year starter,” Wax said of Babb. She is in there on our defensive corners with crazy speed and she is a great distributor of the ball in the midfield. Caroline is awesome defensively at getting back and recovering and channeling. She can score goals for sure, but she’s also really good at setting people up for success at the offensive end.”

Caminiti starts as a midfielder on the right side.

“The biggest takeaway from being in this program the past four years is being one big family,” Caminiti said. “It is all inclusive, from freshman to JV, to varsity. We are one big family who support each other. We have alumni who come back and watch the games, because of how close this program is.”

Erik Caraballo returns as a varsity assistant coach.

“Coach Wax and coach Erik hone in on the components of being close,” Caminiti noted. “In and out of school, we are inseparable.”

Among some of the Cardinals’ returning athletes on the forward line are juniors Kate Donnellan and Stella Thibeault, both of whom are juniors.

Donnellan produced a number of clutch goals throughout the Cardinals’ 2022 season, while Thibeault was also a playmaker. Donnellan earned All-FCIAC Honorable Mention recognition a year ago.

“Stella Thibeault and Kate Donnellan on the forward line, they are hungry to score and push the tempo,” Wax said. “They are intense. Our forward line should look really strong.”

Said Aly Janssen: “They (Stella Thibeault, Kate Donnellan) are two really talented forwards and we have been playing together out of school field hockey for a while, so we know how to play with each other. So, hopefully, that will show in the games and help the team.”

Junior Sofia Klingbeil will be relied upon to spark the squad in the midfield and at forward, while sophomores Emilia Arroyo and Julia Lattuada are among some of the returning midfielders.

Senior Bernie Thompson will see action at forward and midfield, while senior Hanna Klingbeil is one of the Cards’ key defenders.

We have some new defenders this year, but they have been working really hard in practice,” Kelly Janssen said. “I think the defense will be solid this year.”

Four seniors graduated from last season’s successful GHS squad – Klara Mueffelmann, Lauren Mondschein, Maddie Hoekman and Magdalena Balaguer.

A 2022 All-FCIAC First Team selection, Mueffelmann is playing Division I field hockey at Boston College. Mueffelmann had a wealth of standout scoring games for Greenwich throughout her distinguished career. Hoekman was an All-FCIAC Honorable Mention selection.

Greenwich has 16 FCIAC Tournament titles to its collection, the last of which came when it shared the conference title with Darien in 2012. The Cardinals have also won 10 state championships – 2009, 2006, 2005, 1998, 1994, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1985, 1982.

SCHEDULE: After playing its season-opener against Danbury on Sept. 8, Greenwich’s home games include: Norwalk (Sept. 14), Ridgefield (Sept. 27), St. Joseph (Oct. 3), Brien McMahon (Oct. 10), Stamford (Oct. 17) and Fairfield Ludlowe (Oct. 19). Greenwich visits Darien (Sept. 11), Wilton (Sept. 20), New Canaan (Sept. 30), Mamaroneck (Oct. 4) and Staples (Oct. 14).

“I think last year we really proved what a high caliber team we are and this year, a goal of ours is to prove that we are a top team, hopefully, the top team,” Kelly Janssen said. “We would like to get as far as we can in the state and FCIAC tournament and that comes from the intensity we show in practice.”

“We are are looking great this season,” Caminiti added. “The chemistry we have is unmatched.”

To the left: Greenwich varsity field hockey coach Megan Wax addresses the team. To the right: Greenwich in action at practice at Greenwich High School this week.