Miller, North field hockey shooting for state title
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North senior Chantae Miller is the only high school field hockey player in the nation to have 100 goals and 100 assists in a career. File photo

Heading into the 2007 high school field hockey season, there isn't too many goals Chantae Miller hasn't reached.

The Williamsville North senior is the only high school field hockey player in the nation to ever score over 100 goals (107 coming into the season) and 100 assists (103 assists) in a career. Last year, she also became the nation's all-time career assist leader and was named to the All-Western New York first team and Penn Monto/NFHCA High School All-American second team. There's only one obstacle left.

"Being a state champion," said Miller, who is entering her sixth year on the varsity team. "I've never won it so I'm hoping for that this year. I think we have great potential to do it."

North has appeared twice in a state title game. In 2003, they were state runners-up and in 2004, they lost in the state finals. North coach Kris Lapaglia said many of the seniors on her team were youngsters on those squads and are ready for a special season.

Senior Nicole Lewis will tend the Lady Spartans' net for the fourth straight year. She is a returning All-Western New York first team selection. File photo

"It's really come full circle," said Lapagalia. "I look back at those years and it seems like they were the catalyst for this group. A lot of those seniors were on those teams. I think it's their mission every year to try and get back (to states) but this year, they're making an even harder push."

Miller seems really excited about the season, partly because she's at full strength. She played her entire junior year with a torn ligament in her left ankle, an injury she originally suffered while playing in a girls lacrosse game at North last spring. Doctors originally told her the ankle was partially torn and that physical therapy would heal it. But when she got mononucleosis six games into last season, Miller's ankle was still hurting so doctors went in for another look and found a complete tear. Miller had surgery last November and was cleared to start training in February.

"It was extremely hard playing last season because I wasn't getting the results that I wanted," said Miller. "I'm really excited about this season because I'm healthy. I want to finish strong."

"She's a totally different player mentally and physically from last year," said Lapaglia. "Last year, people were like 'she's awesome' and I'm thinking in the back of my head, 'she's only going about 80 percent'. This year, she has come healthy and it's been incredible to watch her play. She has brought her game to a whole new level. I can't wait until she's a senior in college just to see how much she has improved."

Lapaglia said Miller's game sense of knowing what to do with the ball is her best attribute, not to mention possessing a powerful shot.

Miller has enough high school credits to graduate early from North. She has verbally committed to Michigan State University on a full scholarship and will start attending classes in January. Michigan State is currently ranked seventh in the nation by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I poll and fourth in the nation by the Women's Field Hockey Association. She also had offers from Duke, Stanford, Wake Forest, Providence and William and Mary.

Miller is off to a great start, scoring two goals in North's 3-1 win over East Rochester in a scrimmage and another three tallies and three assists in 15 minutes of work in the Lady Spartans' 9-0 league opener against East Aurora last Wednesday. She added another four goals in North's 6-0 victory on Monday over Hamburg.

Normally a midfielder, Miller will be used anywhere Lapaglia needs her on the field.

"I'll have her all over the place so that way, teams can't key on her," said Lapaglia.

The rest of team is deep with talent. Juniors Caitlin Butler and Emily O'Gorman join Miller at left and right forward, respectively. O'Gorman scored three goals against East Aurora.

Senior Leslie Ahern, juniors Melissa Apter and Lauren Weber, and freshman Allie Ahern make up the midfield. Senior Trish Kennery, Adrianna Meholick and Emily Curry start on defense.

Senior Nicole Lewis, a returning All-Western New York first team selection, returns in net. She had 10 shutouts in 15 games last year and is 50-7-1 with 34 shutouts in three years.

Curry and Leslie Ahern are ECIC Large Schools second team picks. Leslie Ahern, Lewis and Miller are team captains.

The group has a ton of varsity experience. Lewis has started since her freshman year; Ahern, Meholick, and Kennery since their sophomore year. Butler has played varsity since eighth grade.

Allie Ahern and Apter played JV last year. Other athletes from JV who Lapaglia said will make an impact are junior twins Sarah and Sana Khan at goalie and forward, respectively, junior forwards Mindy Rowekamp and Katie Dixon and sophomore Holly Flanigan.

Other defenders who will fill in are seniors Caile Morris, Kristen Weber and Chris Abrams and junior Caitlin Kelley. Senior Jess Balke and junior Steph Calderon will play at forward.

So far, Lapaglia feels the team is firing on all cylinders.

"I think they're paying more attention to the smaller details," said Lapaglia. "They're making sure they're in the right position, communicating and doing everything the way they're supposed to do."

North finished 12-2 last year and lost to Sweet Home in the Section VI Class A final.

"I think failure is good if you have the right core of kids because you know mentally, they're going to come back stronger," said Lapaglia.

If North wins a section title, getting to states won't be easy. Section VI was picked to play two regional games (Section V, then Section IV). Lapaglia said every section in the state has to play a double regional every six years.

States are Nov. 16-17 at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse.
North 2007 Schedule
9-14 at Iroquois............ 4:45 p.m.
9-17 Holland ................. 4:45 p.m.
9-19 at Orchard Park .. 4:45 p.m.

9-21 at Lancaster ......... 4:15 p.m.
9-24 at Starpoint .......... 4:45 p.m.
9-26 Pioneer ................. 4:45 p.m.
9-28 East ....................... 4:30 p.m.
10-1 Sweet Home ........ 4:45 p.m.
10-3 at South ................ 4:45 p.m.
10-10 W.S. West............ 4:45 p.m.
10-12 at W.S. East........ 4:45 p.m.
10-15 Amherst .............. 4:45 p.m.
10-17 at Clarence......... 4:45 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com