New Leavitt field hockey coach Cathy Marston had a team roster announcement on Tuesday morning, the second day of fall practice. However, it didn’t involve student-athletes trying to make the Hornets varsity team.
It involved Marston. The 51-year-old learned Monday that she was named to USA Field Hockey’s women’s over 50 team for the upcoming World Masters Hockey Pan American Continental Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Dec. 6-17.
Junior forward Maddy Morin said the Leavitt players, who had no idea Marston was in consideration for the over 50 national team, are happy for their coach.
“It’s really exciting for us and just for her to have that experience and sharing it with us,” Morin said.
Marston, a 1990 Leavitt graduate, played for the Hornets former coach, Wanda Ward-MacLean, who died of metastatic breast cancer on June 30. Marston also was Ward-MacLean’s assistant coach in 2012 when the Hornets won the Class B state championship.
“I played here, I played for Wanda, and field hockey has always been a huge passion for me,” Marston said. “I didn’t get the opportunity to play in college, so I just stayed involved. I did some umpiring and coached in the district here, whether it was the youth program, the middle school, or the high school program. I have played on a travel team (based in Portland) called the Sharkbait, which has been really good. We have traveled to California and Virginia, we have traveled to Phoenix, and we played in some tournaments to be able to try out for Masters.”
USA Field Hockey has a Masters program, which has teams in five-year increments, beginning with an over 35 team and going all the way to over 65 team. The over 65 team includes Auburn resident Joanne Petkus, while the over 35 team has Angela Giordano of Portland and Mallory Pollard of Wells. Liberty’s Staci Smith made the 0ver 45 team, Cape Elizabeth’s Sharon Siegel earned a spot on the over 55 team, and Harpswell’s Karen Croteau will play for the over 60 team.
Also, Ian Wagge of Scarborough made the over 60 men’s national team.
Marston attended a tryout in April for the over 50 team at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She tried to make the team in 2022 but suffered an injury during the tryouts.
“Last year, I tried out, and I ended up rupturing my (left) ACL,” Marston said. “I did a lot of recovery, a lot of lifting, a lot of recovery and a lot of training. In April, I tried out again.”
Marston said she was glad to return to the field after her injury.
“I consider myself extremely blessed,” Marston said. “I really do. I have an amazing family and a support group that has been with me and helped me with the mental part of the injury. I feel very grateful.”
The national team will meet a few times before leaving for Argentina in December. Marston will do a lot of training at home and during Leavitt’s practices.
Morin said the Hornets are going to be a well-conditioned team this season.
“I think she will get us in a lot better shape,” Morin said with a chuckle. “She got us working harder on and off the field.”
Tuesday morning, Marston had the players do a 2-mile run, and she was running with them to get her training in.
Morin hopes to learn a thing from Marston because Marston is also a forward. Specifically, Morin said she wants to improve her shooting.
“Probably getting the ball on net, get strong and quicker,” Morin said.
Marston said going through the process of making the national team will help in her first year of being the head coach at Leavitt.
“It’s national players that have played, there are Division I players, and we have a tremendous coaching staff with the Masters program,” Marston said. “You learn a lot, and, literally, I am a sponge, and I get anything that I can. I haven’t had a lot of collegiate coaching, and being a part of that program has been a real honor. I treasure it and treasure the friendships that I have made and everything.”
Marston said she enjoys any time she gets to be on a field hockey field, even though this year she will it will be without Ward-MacLean, who led the Hornets for the past 39 seasons.
“I think anytime I am on the field, I am a happier person,” Marston said. “I mean, I love the game, and right now, it’s a little bittersweet because I miss Wanda. I miss her here. I have always coached with her, or she coached me. Being here, it’s hard — it’s hard, and it’s good. I am honored to be here, but it’s difficult.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
