Over the past few weeks, MassLive has asked field hockey coaches and athletic directors to reflect on their teams—specifically, the unsung heroes who make their programs successful.
For some, that’s a player who switched positions for the betterment of the team. For others, it’s the quiet leader who supported their classmates on and off the field. They may be the most improved, or they may not ever make the stats sheet, but they’ve made a massive impact this fall.
Please learn about the unsung heroes of the 2025 field hockey season in their coaches’ words below.
Note: Some submissions have been lightly edited for clarity. To add a player to the list, field hockey coaches can email sports@masslive.com.
Julia Rainaud, Belchertown, Junior – submitted by coach Dina Brunetti
Julia is one of the quietest players on the team, but also one of the kindest humans I’ve ever met.
Rainaud is an absolute pleasure to coach.
She’s got wheels, and when she has the confidence, no one can catch her. She never misses a practice, is always on time, and has an incredible understanding of the game.
Julia is always willing to step up and do whatever is asked of her, no matter the situation. I’ve had the privilege of coaching Julia for years. And in all that time, I’ve never heard her argue or seen her upset.
She’s respected and liked by every one of her teammates — it’s impossible not to enjoy being around her. I’m thrilled to have her on the team for another year. Julia embodies everything this award stands for, and she hands down deserves the Unsung Hero Award.
Trinity Fellows, Hampshire, Freshman – submitted by coach Susannah Bastek
Trinity Fellows is, hands down, the Hampshire Regional field hockey team’s Unsung Hero nomination this season.
Trinity started the season exceptionally strong—it was clear she put in significant work during the offseason. Right away, she was a force to be reckoned with in defense, showcasing very strong tackles, dodges, and excellent field sense.
In early September, though, she was unfortunately involved in a golf cart accident and was unable to play for five weeks.
But this did not stop her.
She still came to games and practices, cheering the team on whenever she wasn’t at a doctor’s appointment, and worked incredibly hard to get herself back on the field. While it was tricky for her not to push herself too hard upon her return, she was able to play for the rest of the season.
Here’s to her incredible grit, determination, and team dedication!
Hannah Roy, Palmer, Senior – submitted by coach Heather Korzec
Since her freshman year, Hannah has anchored the defense at the sweeper position.
She played her entire career fearlessly, even when matched up against the opponent’s top scorers. This year, she moved out of the backfield to defensive midfield and saw time at forward, where she scored her first career goal and assist.
Roy’s constant positivity, hustle, and coachability made her a role model to our younger players.
Nolah McConnell, Minnechaug, Senior – submitted by coach Casey Moriarty
Nolah McConnell is an unsung hero for our Minnechaug field hockey team.
Although she was a team captain, she was injured in the middle of the season, preventing her from actually playing in practices or games.
However, she remained an integral part of the program, showing up to every single meeting, practice, game, team volunteering, etc., with a positive attitude and helpful mindset.
Despite her senior season being cut short, Nolah truly represented what it means to be a dependable teammate, influential leader, and coachable student-athlete.
Sydney Frasier, Agawam, Senior – submitted by coach Nina Bruno
Sydney is a prime example of what it means to be a successful student-athlete.
She is supportive, kind, and will always lend a helping hand to our younger athletes. She leads by example, promoting a positive culture for our program.
She is a wonderful role model on and off the field, including in the classrooms as well. Her work ethic speaks for itself.
Therefore, I strongly believe she deserves this title as an Unsung Hero.
Riley Sylvester, Northampton, Junior – submitted by coach Meshia Begin
Riley Sylvester is a total team player, on and off the field. As a starting defensive back, she was asked to improve her technical skills and defensive strategy.
She models what it looks like to develop the whole student athlete by working hard at practice, being kind to everyone on the team, and volunteering to help with equipment.
As a player, she has shown her commitment to the team’s success by improving her understanding of positioning, being an essential post player of every defensive corner, and improving her circle defense with smart outlet carries and passes.
As a reliable athlete, she was asked to be a part of attacking corners as an R1 position/tipping, and she would often sprint upfield to join the attack and then back to defend our goal.
Riley earned her first varsity goal this season on a corner play. Riley has the most impact in the way she leads with integrity, responsibility, and full commitment to the team.
Charlotte Salls, Westfield, Freshman – submitted by coach Jenn Oakland
The team provided nominations for Unsung Hero, and they chose a very deserving player, Charlotte Salls.
This is Charlotte’s first year on the team, and she played with the confidence of a veteran player. The work ethic and positivity she brought to the team during practices and games did not go unnoticed. Even as a freshman, Charlotte was someone that all players on the team, regardless of age, could look up to.
Charlotte makes everyone around her want to work harder and be better because that is what she expects for herself. She is constantly trying her best and is always trying to make adjustments at practice so she can understand the skill or drill better and learn how to apply it to a game situation.
Not only is she dedicated to improving, but she is also dedicated to being a good teammate. She is always encouraging during games, whether she is on the field or on the sideline. She always gets equipment without asking and always makes sure her teammates are OK if there is ever an issue.
She is always one to instantly help in any situation. In only her second year playing, Charlotte was tasked with playing attacking center mid, which is one of the hardest positions on the field.
She played her position confidently, and even though she didn’t have many stats, her actions during open play (dribbling and passing) would set others up with scoring opportunities.
Charlotte’s kindness, work ethic, and dedication are why she is our team’s Unsung Hero for the 2025 season.
