In most sports - if not all - the glory and accolades always focus on the offensive stars and stats leaders. Lost in that shuffle many times, including in high school field hockey, are the defensive stars who make just as much an impact on a game as those stars on offense.

This season the New Haven area is blessed with many talented goalies and each team has its shining star(s) when it comes to on-field defenders.
A good example is on the Branford field hockey team where the defenders, led by halfback Val Milici, have been making life between the pipes a little easier for goalie Tori Redding.
"Val's dribbling skill, aggressiveness and getting to the place at the right time are invaluable to our team," Branford coach Cathy McGuirk said.

Among the many top goalies in the area are Hamden's Emily Adams (nine saves in a 2-0 win over North Haven and 10 saves in a 2-0 win over Sheehan last week); Maggie DeStefano of Amity (16 saves in a 6-0 win over Sheehan and three saves in a 3-0 win over Lyman Hall last week); Jamie Bowman of Cheshire (14 saves in a 1-0 win over Mercy last week); North Branford's Sara Robertson (seven saves in a 4-0 win over Morgan last week); Hopkins' Liz Flynn (10 saves in a 3-0 win over Greens Farms last week); and Redding (five saves in a 6-0 win over Lyman Hall and two saves in a 3-0 win over Guilford last week).
Goalie Brittany Parker is one of many reasons Hand started the season 6-0.