By Mark Zimmaro
It’s easy to see Riley Barusevicius’ importance on the field as one of the most skilled field hockey players in the Friends School League. Her value as a captain runs a little deeper.
The Shipley School senior midfielder showcases her skills daily by controlling play and feeding the ball to her teammates. But off the field, she’s determined to help others who might be struggling.
“I’ve personally struggled a lot with my mental health, especially on the field," she said. "And sports played a big role in helping me with that. Just being able to bring that to the team, especially in my role as a captain, to talk to other girls and be like ‘it’s ok, you got this.’ And to help them when I know they are feeling kind of stressed or down and not let that take over their mental health, because I know them much more than the way they play on the field.”
Barusevicus was part of her school’s mental health club and women’s rights club. It’s two topics she feels strongly about.
"Both of those topics have such a big influence on sports,” Barusevicius said. “This is a girls’ sport and we really bring together that community and stress its importance. In a place, across all schools, that doesn’t maybe pay as much attention to women’s sports, we’re driving that point that we’re here, we’re important, we’re together and just as important as any guys’ sport.”
Shipley's Riley Barusevicius controls the ball in the midfield. Photo by Mark Zimmaro
She’s just as enthusiastic when she’s playing midfield for the Gators. Barusevicius and Shipley are eying a third consecutive Friends League championship this year after her freshman year didn’t award a champ due to the pandemic. Barusevicius would love to make it 3-for-3 in her high school career before heading off to play at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut next year. They took a significant step by defeating Germantown Friends, 3-0, and the George School, 2-0. The latter victory was a little payback from last season.
“It was a pretty big win,” Barusevicius said. “When we played (George School) last year, we lost to them (in the regular season), but we came back and beat them in the playoffs. But it was really good to get that win under our belt. Racking up the wins is really going to build our confidence.”
Shipley used an early goal by Sydney Jacoby to set the pace with a 1-0 lead, but then struggled a bit to find the insurance goal despite quite a few penalty corner opportunities.
Finally, with about five minutes to go, Jordyn Faragalli was able to sneak one through to give the Gators the all-important two goal advantage.
Shipley's Riley Barusevicius
Shipley's Jordyn Faragalli
“It was really important for me to just stay on the post and the ball came right to me and I just tipped it in,” Faragalli said. “It was amazing. After trying so hard and we missed it so many times, finally getting it was amazing.”
For George School, it’s been a frustrating start to the FSL season, having been shutout 5-0 by Academy of the New Church and 2-0 by Shipley. But the Cougars now have arguably their two toughest games out of the way and there will certainly be a market correction in goal-scoring as the Cougars have come up empty despite getting some good chances.
“They’re playing their hearts out,” George School coach Kim Stone said. “We came up a little short today but strong. I’m confident we will continue to find success.
George School at Shipley photos
Shipley defeated George School, 2-0, to remain undefeated in its FSL season. Photos by Mark Zimmaro
The Cougars had several opportunities in tight against Shipley with a chance to tie the game before Faragalli’s insurance marker.
“I wish we could have gotten a few more offensive corners,” Stone said. “We were up there but just didn’t convert them. We’re getting close.”
Stone is no stranger to the school, as she is a 1996 alum who played field hockey and lacrosse for the Cougars before playing both sports at Lafayette College.
I’m super excited,” Stone said. “It’s been really fun so far and it’s such a great group. They’ve completely warmed my heart being back at George School. We’re having a good time and finding success along the way.”
Around the league
We talked last week about major streaks being broken and Friends Central added to the trend just a few days later by defeating Friends Select, 1-0, in overtime, to give the Phoenix their first FSL win since 2017. Maia Sevin hauled in a long looping pass by Eli Sparrow and placed a gorgeous shot high, underneath the bar for the game-winner.
Last week Germantown Friends had ended their long FSL winless streak with a victory over Friends Central but the Tigers weren’t satisfied. After a tough 3-0 loss to Shipley, Germantown Friends defeated Westtown, 1-0, on Friday and now sits at 2-1 in the standings. The last time the Tigers had beaten Westtown was Oct. 18, 2016 in a 2-1 overtime victory. Germantown Friends is officially in the playoff hunt.
Academy of the New Church remained perfect in the FSL season and still hasn’t allowed a goal. A 5-0 victory on Tuesday over George School was sparked by Ellery Johns, who scored twice in that game. Ayla Mergen, Olivia Sweigard and Mary Vandegrift each added a goal. On Friday, the Lions took care of business as Zarah Synnestvedt recorded the 2-0 shutout over Friends Select to go to 3-0 on the season. So far, it’s eight goals for and zero against for the Academy of the New Church.
Westtown School has had its fair share of close contests this fall, sporting a 3-2 overall record and a 1-1 slate in the Friends League. A 5-3 victory over Moorestown Friends is the only game this season that has not had a one-goal outcome.
Speaking of Moorestown Friends, the Foxes picked up their first FSL victory with a 1-0 win over Friends Central on a goal by Isabella Didie, assisted by Azaria Coleman-Stokes. It was Didie’s team-leading fourth goal of the season, and possibly her most important this season.
STANDINGS Through Oct. 1
Academy of the New Church 3-0
Shipley School 2-0
Germantown Friends 2-1
Westtown School 1-1
Moorestown Friends 1-2
Friends Central 1-2
Friends Select 0-2
George School 0-2