September 8, 2026 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
The bar has never been higher for the Hingham High School field hockey program.
Coming off the most successful season in program history, the Harborwomen enter 2026 facing a very different challenge. Hingham earned the No. 1 seed in Division 2 with a 16-1-1 record, reached the state championship game for the first time and made the Final Four for the third consecutive year before falling to Somerset-Berkeley.
But 13 seniors graduated, leaving a much different roster for head coach Susan Petrie to mold.
A Fresh Start
The transition began with a demanding preseason and a committed summer.
“It went pretty well,” senior captain Libby Koyce said of preseason. “It’s a lot of running, so it kind of takes a lot out of you, but everyone did pretty good. It’s just about pushing yourself to keep going.”
Junior captain Sam McCabe said the commitment continued through the summer, with captains’ practices every Friday and games on Thursdays.
“We had a lot of commitment to that,” McCabe explained. “We were impressed with the number of freshmen we saw at these past few months. They’re really into it and they’ve been working hard during the summer.”
For Petrie, the challenge is less about replacing last year’s team than discovering what this group can become.
“Last year it was just filling in a few tiny pieces and just working on game sense,” Petrie said. “This year it’s figuring out who can play what position and how they play with each other.”
That process, she said, starts with “getting touches on the ball” and building connections.
Building the Next Team
With so many openings, competition for playing time has been intense.
“We lost about half our team, so there are a lot of spots to fill,” senior captain Kaylee Fabrizio said. “It’s very competitive this year, so we’re hoping that the people who make the team bring their ‘A’ game.”
The challenge is significant, but Hingham isn’t starting from scratch. Several returning varsity players bring experience from last season, while the program’s younger teams continue to provide depth.
“Our numbers are great,” Petrie said. “We have kids coming back with a lot of experience at all three levels. That’s a great benefit again to having such a strong youth program.”
That experience is spread throughout the field, with returning players who saw varsity time at defense, midfield and forward.
Carrying the Standard Forward
Three straight Final Four appearances have established a standard that won’t disappear simply because the roster has changed.
“I think our success the last couple of years puts a lot of pressure on the season,” Koyce said. “We’re kind of wanting to continue that and follow that. It’s a pretty good goal to have and we want to chase it.”
The returning players know they have a role in setting the tone, but Petrie doesn’t expect them to duplicate last year’s accomplishments by themselves.
“They’re already leaders on the team, even though some of them are still underclassmen,” Petrie said. “The pressure is not necessarily on them to play the level of everybody else, but to help incorporate those new players into the team.”
Fabrizio understands that responsibility.
“We’re kind of like the backbone or the base of it,” she said.
Captains Ready to Step Up
Among the players Petrie expects to take a larger role are her two senior captains, Fabrizio and Koyce.
“I honestly think our two senior captains, Kaylee and Libby, play really well together,” Petrie said. “I think they’re going to surprise people.”
Both saw time as substitutes last season, but Petrie believes the opportunity is now there for the pair to make a bigger impact as forwards.
The Harborwomen also return high-level talent at both ends of the field.
“We sure do,” Petrie said when asked about having an elite goal scorer in junior Libby Baxter and an elite goaltender in senior Molly McDonald back this season.
“That solves two problems at either end of the field,” she added.
A Schedule That Won’t Let Up
If Hingham is going to determine just how good this new group can be, it won’t have to wait long for tests.
Petrie has once again put together an ambitious non-league schedule again this season, including two games against Sandwich and matchups with Watertown and Monomoy Regional. All three opponents reached their respective division Final Fours last season.
For a young team still developing its identity, those games should provide an early indication of where Hingham stands.
High Expectations, New Identity
Despite the turnover, Petrie remains confident in the team’s potential.
“The expectation is that we play at the highest level we possibly can,” she said. “I still think this team could do very well.”
The ingredients are already there: experienced returners, talented newcomers, strong numbers throughout the program and a group of captains determined to establish the team’s identity.
“They still want it,” Petrie said. “The desire is still there.”
Last year’s team made history by reaching the state final for the first time. This year’s team will have to earn the right to be compared with it.
The names may be different, but the goal remains the same: keep Hingham among the state’s best programs.