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October 25, 2007

Oteri a scoring whiz in field hockey, ice hockey

David Willis

ANDOVER | When asked who scored Andover's lone goal last Wednesday, the scorekeeper responded with a chuckle.

"Sarah Oteri of course," she said. "She's always scoring goals."

The goal, off a rebound early in the first half, gave Andover a 1-1 tie with Chelmsford, and clinched the Golden Warriors a share of the Merrimack Valley Conference title with the Lions. It was Andover's sixth MVC title (outright or shared) in the last seven years.

Scoring big goals is nothing new to the Andover sophomore.

"Going into the season I didn't even know whether I would be on varsity or JV," said Oteri, who scored over 20 goals at the freshman level in 2006. "I was just happy when I found out I made the varsity team. Then I was starting, then things just started to roll."

Through 17 games in her first varsity season, the 15-year-old leads the undefeated Golden Warriors (14-0-3) with 15 goals and two assists.

"She has progressed a lot over the season," said Andover coach Maureen Noone. "She was a little tentative going for the ball at the beginning of the year. But now she knows she can't just rely on stick skills. ... She is always in the right place at the right time and she has great eye-hand coordination, and that allows her to tip in a lot of balls."

It should be no surprise that Oteri has made her presence felt this season. Not after last winter.

As a freshman, Oteri stepped onto the girls ice hockey team and wasted no time emerging as the top sharpshooter for a team that finished 14-4-3. She led the team in goals (19) and tied for the lead in assists (14). Those numbers were good for second in The Eagle-Tribune coverage area to All-Scholastic Jess Scioli of North Reading.

"My shot in field hockey has really developed from my shot in hockey," said Oteri. "The goal is a different size and the goalie is in a different spot, but they are very similar. You still have to get a lot of power from your legs."

Ice hockey is her first love.

"I started playing hockey in the second grade, but I have been skating since I could walk," she said. "My dad (Ed) played hockey in high school and college and used to take me out skating on this pond in my backyard.

"I tried soccer and basketball and softball, but none of them clicked. As soon as I started playing hockey, it just clicked. I knew I loved it."

And when she reached middle school and was looking for another sport to play, field hockey seemed like the logical choice.

"They are similar, but not that similar," she said. "There are a lot more rules in field hockey. In hockey you can use your stick to get the puck off another girl's stick. But in field hockey you have to intercept a pass. And in hockey it's all about being physical and using your body. You can't do that in field hockey -- it's obstruction."

But Noone can see the difference Oteri's time on the ice makes.

"She understands things that other kids really have to learn," the coach said. "Her stick skills are phenomenal and her and (hockey teammate) Nicole Giroux get the give-and-go. They have those skills and they are very aggressive."

The athletic, 5-foot-5 forward has scored a goal in 12 of the Golden Warriors' 17 games, as of Monday evening, including six of the last seven. She also has three two-goal games.

"I play in the middle of the field," she explained. "The key is to move as much as possible to get open and be in front of the net. About three-fourths of my goals have been off rebounds. The initial shot is saved a lot, so I stay by the net. That net is pretty big."



The Sarah Oteri File

Age: 15

Sport: Field hockey/ice hockey

Position: Forward

Field: Leads the MVC co-champion Golden Warriors in goals with 15 and total points with 17 in her first season with the varsity team. Scored more than 20 goals for the freshman team last season.

Ice: As a freshman a year ago, led Andover in goals (19), assists (14) and total points (33) for a team that finished 14-4-3.

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