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For a marked offensive player on one of those clubs, the challenge only widens.
Brooklyn Shearer helped a steady Trojan team stay competitive in the division and on the brink of the program's third District 3 playoff appearance in as many years.
Shearer is the 2009 Public Opinion Field Hockey Player of the Year.
"I made a team goal before the season started that I wanted to make the playoffs, at least," Shearer said. "I thought we had a strong team and we'd be able to do that."
Trojan coach Jen Amsley needed a cornerstone following the departure of three-time P.O. Player of the Year Chelsey Amsley. The coach found the answer in Shearer.
"She was a very important part of our team," Amsley said. "We set the team around her. She played center midfield and we worked off that. She has great stickwork and speed. We needed her as a midfielder this season. Her great stickwork and skill have been an important part of Trojan field hockey."
The senior credits her improvement to playing in the offseason and from a family source.
Her mom -- Carla Christian -- played field hockey at Bloomsburg and was recently inducted into the school's hall of fame.
"As frustrated as I did get from her instructing me, it helped a lot," Shearer said. "She knows a lot about the game and passed it down. I've been playing since I was a baby."
Shearer made her
"I was just really excited and ready to have a great season," Shearer said. "It kind've died down a little bit. I distributed the ball to others a lot better. I stopped being as selfish."
Defenses soon began making contingency plans for the Trojan midfielder.
"I got marked up one-on-one," Shearer said, "especially the second time we started playing teams. They noticed I was starting to be a little bit of a threat."
At the end of the season, when the Trojans were fighting for that elusive playoff spot, Shearer punched in important goals in wins over CD East and Red Land.
Shearer will play at least four more years. Just this week, she decided to continue her college career at Appalachian State University.
Shearer plans to major in elementary education.
"I really liked the campus and felt I needed to get away to go to college," Shearer said. "I think the team was a good fit for me. I got to go down and meet everybody."
After four years of varsity experience and 20-plus goals, Shearer is ready to move on to the next challenge.
Yet, she'll miss the CASHS program, too.
"I'll miss the team and the girls," Shearer said. "We were all close. Obviously, I'll miss the coaches. I've known coach Amsley all my life."
Now, it's time for the next chapter.
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Brian Hall may be reached at 262-4788 or bkhall@publicopinionnews.com.
P.O. Field Hockey Player of the Year
Name: Brooklyn Shearer
School: Chambersburg
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-foot-5
Parents: Carla Christian and Arnie Kelly
Interests: Plays basketball and runs track for the Trojans; member of RAM club hockey team
2009 stats: 8 goals, 4 assists
Career: 25 goals, 16 assists
Other honors: Mid Penn Commonwealth Division first-team; P.O. first team in 2008
