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Katie Crump is embracing the challenge.
After two seasons watching Georgia Leary play the most demanding position in the Villa Duchesne field hockey formation, Crump feels ready to be the quarterback of the Saints’ attack.
“I learned a lot from Georgia with how she plays and her composure and I want to keep it going,” said Crump, a junior.
During an impressive sophomore campaign, Crump played an outside-midfield position. She placed second in the area with 23 assists and scored nine goals, including tallies in both the state semifinal and championship games in helping the Saints win a third successive title.
She now shifts into the center of the field where Leary excelled by lurking, anticipating and turning takeaways into scoring chances the previous two seasons.
“We’re excited to see Katie move into that new role,” Villa Duchesne coach Kate Graft said. “She brings a level of intensity, hustle and effort that you hope exudes to the rest of the team, and it really does.”
The ‘top of the triangle’ position is an integral spot in the swarming Villa Duchesne press, which creates takeaways by overwhelming opponents in their defensive zone.
But a mentality of intercepting every pass attempt or attacking the goal on every play can equally overwhelm the person playing that position.
“The best way to maintain my energy throughout a game is to let the ball do the work and not try to do everything myself,” Crump said. “I have 10 girls around me and we’re there to help each other and play as one. I don’t want to be an individual, we’re a team.”
Leary now plays for Wake Forest University. Gigi Edwards, the area’s leading point-producer last year, plays at Louisville.
The situation this preseason is reminiscent of 2021. Villa Duchesne stars Taryn Tkachuk and Suzy Keefer had graduated, and the Saints appeared vulnerable to be dethroned as champions.
Those beliefs quickly vanished as Crump, as the lone freshman, scored 10 goals, added 13 assists and helped a young Saints’ team repeat as state champions.
“Every year we lose people to graduation, it’s inevitable, and it really depends on who steps up,” Crump said. “I think the amount of fantastic underclassman we have coming in will help elevate us to be better, not only this year, but in years to come.”
The Saints will employ five freshmen and five sophomores in their lineup this season after losing seven seniors to graduation. Crump wants the underclassmen to be assured that there is nothing to fear.
“I was the only freshman (in 2021) and it’s scary, so just making them know, I’m not scary,” Crump said with a laugh. “I know exactly how they feel. I don’t want them to be nervous. I want them to feel like Villa field hockey is their second home.”
And this season, Crump will occupy her second home, as the central figure for a Villa Duchesne team looking for its fourth consecutive Midwest Tournament championship – a feat that has never been accomplished in the St. Louis area.
“I get so excited to go back to school so I can play Villa field hockey. It’s the best part of the year,” Crump said.
Field Hockey Players to Watch
Westminster senior Mia Scheulen enters scoring territory during the Field Hockey Jamboree on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Joseph’s High School in Frontenac, MO.
Mia Scheulen, senior, Westminster
Scheulen tied for the area lead with 29 goals, including five hat tricks. She scored four goals in a game twice (Parkway South, Summit) and led the area with nine game-winning goals. Scheulen owns the Westminster record for career goals (50) and game-winning goals (14) and helped the Wildcats earn a 12-5 overall record last season. She has verbally committed to play field hockey at Ohio University.
Lafayette senior Olivia Williams pushes the ball ahead during the Field Hockey Jamboree on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Joseph’s High School in Frontenac, MO.
Olivia Williams, senior, Lafayette
Williams scored 14 goals and added seven assists, figuring in on 75 percent of the goals scored by the Lancers last season. She had four multi-goal games, including two in an upset win over MICDS and two against top-seeded John Burroughs. Williams has 39 goals and 25 assists in her career and will be a key performer for a Lancers’ team trying to rebound from a 6-13 overall record last season.
Ursuline senior Josie Naeger secures possession of the ball during the Field Hockey Jamboree on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Joseph’s High School in Frontenac, MO.
Josie Naeger, senior, Ursuline
Naeger scored 10 goals and added 11 assists, both team highs, and helped Ursuline reach the state quarterfinals last season. A defensive midfielder, Naeger did not score a goal prior to last season but found the scoring touch with crucial goals in wins against Oak Park River Forest and St. Dominic during a stretch of seven wins in nine games. She has verbally committed to play at Indiana University.
St. Joseph’s senior goalie Paige Jackson makes a left toe save during the Field Hockey Jamboree on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Joseph’s High School in Frontenac, MO.
Paige Jackson, senior, St. Joseph’s
Jackson made the acrobatic save look routine in backstopping St. Joseph’s to a 17-5-1 overall record and helping the Angels’ reach the Midwest Tournament final four. She notched seven shutouts, including 1-0 victories over Visitation and MICDS. This summer, Jackson was named a USA Field Hockey National Club Championship All-Star in the U19 division.