The 2022 season ended in exciting fashion for Greenwich Academy’s varsity field hockey team, which added to its collection of championship trophies last fall.

Greenwich Academy won the NEPSAC Class A Tournament championship with a 4-3 win over top-seeded Taft School in the title game, after capturing the FAA Tournament title by edging rival Sacred Heart Greenwich, the No. 1-seed, in the FAA final.

Now, GA’s 2023 team is hoping to continue the program’s successful tradition.

“We want to be a very competitive team and we’re always looking to get to those tournaments and do really well like last year,” Greenwich Academy senior captain Caroline Busler said. “We have to take it one game at a time. Every game matters and most importantly, we want to make sure that we have a good team dynamic and a really strong bond this year.”

GA opened its 2023 campaign in fine fashion, defeating visiting Greenwich Country Day School, 5-0. GCDS is a new, improving program that qualified for the FAA Tournament last season, winning in the quarterfinal-round, before being eliminated by Sacred Heart Greenwich in the tourney’s semifinals.

“I was really happy with it,” Greenwich Academy coach Jamie Brower said of her team’s season-opener. “I thought the kids were prepared and dialed in. There were a lot of people who were on the team last year, but maybe hadn’t had a whole lot of playing time in the past. They are getting used to playing with each other and where to be. On the whole, I thought they did a really nice job today.”

Busler recorded a hat trick, scoring two goals in the first quarter and one in the second against Greenwich Country Day School. Eighth-grader Cordelia Blanc registered a third-period goal and sophomore Chloe Cleaves tallied in the fourth quarter for the Gators (1-0).

“I noticed everybody was hustling to get the ball and I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Greenwich Academy senior captain Brooke Bertrand said. “Everyone is really positive, everyone came out here and showed up for the team. We’re excited to see what the season holds for us.”

The matchup also marked the season-opener for GCDS, which is coached by Stephanie McDonald. The Tigers’ received stellar play in goal by Liv Starr, who made a number of saves, while facing a lot of shots throughout the game.

“They’re good, their goalie played a phenomenal game,” Brower said of Greenwich Country Day and Starr’s performance. “I was impressed by her play. She was aggressive and she made some awesome saves on some shots we took. Steph does a great job with them and they are getting better every year.”

Busler and Bertrand are experienced varsity athletes who have played pivotal roles in the Gators’ success for several seasons.

“It feels really great to be a captain, we’ve had great captains the last two years I’ve been on the team and finally embodying everything I’ve seen the last two years is a great opportunity,” Bertrand said. “I’m honored to be the captain of the great team we have this year and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.”

Said Busler: “It’s been incredible experience. It is bittersweet being a senior, I’ve had the best three years being on this team. I’m really excited to get to lead it this year.”

Captains Bertrand and Busler are forwards GA will rely upon to help lead the offense, along with eighth-grader Cordelia Blanc, Cleaves, a sophomore and Quinn Leahy, also a sophomore.

Playing goalie for the Gators is junior Persia Shipman, who saw significant action as a sophomore one season ago. Junior Isa Packard, Lila Cabot, a junior and sophomore Mallory Walker return to pace GA’s defense, after providing strong play last fall.

Helping to solidify the midfield for GA are junior Lavinia Cartellieri, senior Gigi Caldero, senior Devon Grills and sophomore Georgia Schmitz.

Lindsay Gaynor, a junior, Katie Barr (junior), Caroline Watts (junior) and sophomore Mia Jones are among the athletes that give GA strength at several positions. Among some of the graduates from Greenwich Academy’s championship 2022 squad were captains Laetitia Cartellieri, Ellie Johnson and Sienna Tejpaul.

Laetitia Cartellieri is continuing her field hockey career at Harvard University; Johnson is playing lacrosse at Stanford University and Tejpaul is competing on the field hockey team at Yale University.

Laetitia Cartellieri was named the NEPSAC Class A Field Hockey Player of the Year in 2022. She scored twice in the Gators’ 4-3 triumph against Taft in the NEPSAC Class A Tournament final.

Johnson scored the game-winning goal off a penalty corner in the final minutes in GA’s 1-0 win against Sacred Heart Greenwich in the 2022 FAA Tournament title game and Tejpaul’s overtime goal was the game-winner for GA against SHG in the NEPSAC Class A quarterfinal a season ago.

In Tuesday’s season-opening game against Greenwich Country Day at Tammaro Field, Busler recorded a natural hat trick, tallying GA’s first three goals. Her first goal came off an assist from Blanc with 13:41 left in the opening quarter.

Busler scored again off a Cleaves assist at the 6:17 mark of the first quarter, then completed her hat trick with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, giving the Gators a 3-0 advantage. Blanc assisted on Busler’s third goal, then scored off a Busler assist, making it 4-0 57 seconds into the third period.

Cleaves added a goal off an assist from Gaynor in the fourth quarter. For Greenwich Country Day, Reminy D’Albert and Devon Anderson helped pace the defensive effort in front of Starr in goal.

“We’re really excited, we had some great goal scoring today – team goals and we’re really excited,” Busler said of GA’s season-opening performance. “We have some first-year players and an eighth-grader as well, which is new for us. We’re really excited to have her and we’re going to have a great time.”

Brower, who is assisted by coach Sally Duval, is impressed with her team’s dynamic.

“I think the kids coming back are excited and they’re excited to play together, laugh together and have fun together,” Brower noted. “The dynamic is very positive. They are eager to keep getting better.”

Greenwich Academy is in action again on Wednesday when it travels to NEPSAC foe Choate Rosemary Hall. GA will then take a trip to the Academy of Notre Dame in Pennsylvania to compete in the National High School Invitational, which takes place on Friday and Saturday.

GCDS visits FAA opponent King School on Tuesday, then hosts Suffield Academy on Saturday.

“I feel like we are here to have fun,” Bertrand said of some of GA’s strengths. “Everyone loves the sport and we all want to be out here every day. Every day, people come in here with a smile on their face ready to play.”

“We have a lot of good teams and good games ahead, we just have to take it one game at a time,” Busler noted.

Competitive spirit is also among GA’s strong points as a team.

“They are willing to work,” Brower said of her squad. “They don’t take for granted that they are going to beat anybody. Last year’s team set a good tone for their work ethic and competitiveness. They love to work and win and be in the trenches.”

“Brooke and Caroline as captains have been phenomenal,” Brower continued. “They have led by example and they have been positive. Devon and Gigi, the other two seniors, are the best support to the captains and the team you can ask for.”