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North Haven Girls’ Field Hockey Celebrates Successful Season
Isabella Russo
The North Haven Nighthawks Varsity Girls Field Hockey team had a great comeback this weekend, ending with a 6-0 win. Although the team took a tough 4-1 loss against Sheehan in their first game, they proved themselves to be a competitor in the league. This past Saturday, the Nighthawks faced the Lyman Hall Trojans for the first time this season. The girls went into the game with a positive mindset and the motivation needed for a win.
Starting on the field were Emma Colella, Morgan Senberg, Molly Lillis, Catherine Bianchi, Sydney Pitcher, Ava Chagnon, Madi Bowes, Samantha Ide, Grace Martin, Maya Redman and in goal, Nola Coyle. From the start, the Nighthawks had full coverage of the ball and made it their job to get it down the field. Pulling past both offense and defensive players, the ball was down near the goal, giving them the perfect chance to score. A few minutes into the first quarter, Samantha Ide shot the ball towards the corners of the net and got it straight past the goalie. This was the goal that put the team into the game, and ultimately into the season.
With the first quarter finished, the score being 1-0, head coach Kim Bouffard and assistant coach Sam Testa made sure that the team kept their head in the game. From there, the rest of the game was filled with 150% effort. Again, the girls were able to move the ball back down the field. As Madi Bowes hit the ball in, Ava Chagnon was able to tip it past the goalie into the net, advancing the score to 2-0. After halftime was over, the intensity really began to pick up. Catherine Bianchi was able to score, followed by Sydney Pitcher. Not only was Sydney able to score once, but then again with an impressive shot on net. These two have a connection that is unmatched as they move down the field, and it benefits the entire team as a result.
Now that it was down to the last minutes of the game, the girls really pushed it out. Even though the score was 5-0 and they had this win under their belt, they didn’t stop stepping on the gas. With one second left, Madi Bowes was able to score one last time. A buzzer goal.
North Haven Field Hockey hasn’t always had the best season record, but this proved to everybody that this was a new team. The 6-0 win was a big deal, and because of the shutout in net, the goals scored, the assists made, and everybody's efforts, this celebration felt special. Everybody felt this win, whether they played on varsity or JV, and it was what the team needed to keep pushing for the rest of the season. Lyman Hall played an excellent game, and their efforts to score should also be recognized and appreciated. They allowed the girls to fight for this win, and ultimately everybody pushed each other to be the best versions of themselves. The girls face Lyman Hall yet again on Friday September 16th, which will be another great game to see.
How Have NIL Deals Affected College Football?
Jake McCreven
When the NCAA announced that NIL (name, image, likeness) deals would become legal starting on July 1st of 2021, many people were immediately –and rightfully– skeptical. NIL Schools now had the ability to shell out millions of dollars to players in order for them to play there. People started asking questions like “How does this affect recruiting?” or “How will this affect power rankings/the traditional powerhouses of college football?” Well, the impact of NIL deals has already been felt, with a vacuum left by some top-end recruits choosing to take their talents to schools that may not be considered “top-end.”
First of all, what are NIL deals? It's an acronym that stands for “name, image, likeness.” Rights to a player’s name, image, and likeness allow for programs, companies, schools, and teams to advertise them while giving students the opportunity to earn money. For instance, if John Doe was playing for LSU and was seen in a Popeye’s advertisement, he more than likely earned compensation for appearing in this commercial.
How does this affect recruiting? Schools can now provide incentive to young, freshly graduated kids with money to play for them, playing time and taking a backseat. For example, SEC schools like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU landed the most five-star recruits in the country over the last ten years. Prestigious programs had a tradition of nabbing the top high school prospects due to their accolades, reputation, and luxury. According to MaxPreps, 44/331 (13%) of the five stars have landed at Alabama alone in the last ten years. Georgia, Ohio State, and Clemson are teams that have appeared in a collective 19/32 possible College Football Playoff spots; they trail just behind the Crimson Tide. The first shockwave of NIL recruiting effects was seen just this past spring, where No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter, a man who earned five stars on his recruitment profile on both sides of the ball, committed to Jackson State to play college ball. Earning five stars is a lifetime accomplishment even on one side of the ball, but earning it for both defensive back and wide receiver makes Hunter a generational type talent. With his ranking, he had been receiving attention from almost every school in the country. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Florida State, all schools with an ongoing record of national championships, were practically begging him to come play. But what nobody –not even the recruiting analysis crew– thought about was the money. Jackson State and coach Sanders paid Hunter $1,000,000 to come and play for them. Not to say that other schools can’t match that, but when Georgia is trying to land every five-star, they can’t afford to spend one million dollars on every one of them. He went where he was given the most money, while also having the ability to play at his highest level. Jackson State is an FCS school, meaning they don’t play in big-time games all the time. Those games are reserved for FBS schools, like the aforementioned SEC powerhouses. This does leave a void in spaces where fellow top recruits like Hunter could be, but it also puts more pressure on schools to prioritize their current players, recruits, and money they can spend.
Texas A&M, another SEC school, finished 8-4 last year. Besides an upset win over No. 1 ranked Alabama in their sixth game, the Aggies lost games to Arkansas and Mississippi (ranked), as well as Mississippi State and LSU (both unranked). Finishing 8-4, especially in the SEC, is not good enough. They finished 5th in the SEC West, with all four losses coming to in-conference foes. Going into the offseason, head coach Jimbo Fisher broke the bank with his recruiting class. Bolstering the number one-ranked recruiting class in the nation, the Aggies spent a total of $30 million to get it. How has it worked out for them so far? Well, it has been two weeks since the start of the season, where Texas A&M saw themselves ranked No. 6 in the nation before a matchup with lowly Appalachian State. The Mountaineers not only went into College Station and won, but allowed only 14 points in the process. Falling all the way to No. 24 this week, Texas A&M finds themselves down and out of playoff contention.
Up in the northeast, fellow juggernaut Notre Dame has the number one class for this upcoming year, while shelling out $8 million to their current roster in collective deals. How has it been going for them? Well a week one loss to perennial superpower Ohio State was expected. But this week the Irish lost to Marshall, also at home. Schools are monopolizing the game by having the ability to dish out NIL deals, and while it does provide more spread out talent and more of a chance for an upset, the unorthodox style of play we are seeing is something all fans have to adjust to.
Giants Fans Encouraged as Saquon Barkley "Touches Down" for a Comeback
By Salvatore Demaio
The NFL kicked off their 2022 fall season with plenty of excitement. The games were intense with 7 games ending within 5 points and 1 tie. These games had viewers on their heels. One player stuck out more than others, the New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who some say has put his name back on the map.
Many anticipated that Barkley would acquire another injury given his past. The monster back was drafted out of Penn State in 2018 with the 2nd pick in the draft, and he showed up right off the jump. After completing his rookie season with 1,307 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, he was named the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the year. In his sophomore season, he came back right where he left off, producing more than he could, ending his season with 1,003 yards and 6 touchdowns in just 13 games.
However, some fans began worrying about Barkley’s workload and questioning if it was becoming too much for him. Sure enough, his third season was cut very short due to an ACL injury in his 2nd game which would take him out of the 2020 NFL season. With fans expecting him to take off where he left off, Barkley felt heavily pressured and as he returned in the 2021 NFL season it seemed that he was not the same Saquon we saw in the past. Reporters looked at Saquon as if he was scared of injury and therefore playing conservatively. This is why he underachieved and only put up 593 yards with just two touchdowns while only playing 13 games. After that, fans were really questioning Barkley’s performance. From being an All-Pro, and rookie of the year in past seasons to an average back in the league, reporters were starting to write him off. During the 2021 offseason Barkley worked harder than ever doing everything he could to get back to the monster back he was. He received a lot of backlash and made sure to use it as motivation to prove all of his haters wrong. Which is not a bad lesson to learn/teach.
¨I'm tired of whatever is written about me, the BS that's said about me or this team.¨ Barkely came out with this statement in April of 2022 while preparing for the 2022 season. He made sure to take all this hate personally. Training harder than ever this offseason. With the hiring of another new head coach Brian Daboll in New York, the team was predicted by viewers to have another subpar year.
The Giants opened up with the Tennessee Titans, a high-powered offense run by dominant back Derrick Henry, last year's offensive player of the year contender. The game started off slow for the Giants. With the Titans going up 13-0 in the first half, they knew they had to show up. Coming out of the half, they put on a show. With Saquon leading the charge he starts off by putting the Giants on the board with a 5-yard touchdown. With this momentum swing, the Giants came out next drive with a deep ball down the field to Wide receiver Sterling Sheppard who scored a 65-yard touchdown tying the game at 13. While the Giants give up another touchdown with just 2:53 left in the third quarter, they are trailing 20-13. After going back and forth during the 4th quarter Saquon breaks a run all the way to the Titans 3 yard line setting them up for a score with just 1:16 left in the game. The Giants hand it off to the fullback which makes the score 20-19 with 1 minute left in the game. Will the Giants tie with the extra point or go for 2 to win the game? Coach Daboll put his trust in his team as he elected to go for two. A shovel pass to Barkley got them in the end-zone putting them up 21-20 as the Giants win. A great win led by Barkley who had a great playing day. Having a stellar performance, racking up 164 rushing yards along with a massive touchdown on just 18 carries, and the game-winning two-point conversion. Saquon Barkley was named the NFC Offensive player of the week, and given his exciting performance, many viewers were wondering if he was indeed back to stay!
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