NHRS students big contributors to Hopkinton hockey defense

By Chris Villani

First-year head coach Chuck Costello had his work cut out for him at the start of the season, with a brand-new team built with players from several different area schools. But his Hopkinton girls’ hockey team, which includes several Nipmuc student athletes, started to gel after the New Year, and started the month of February with a .500 record after a slow start.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming in, but they got right to work and I am having a great time,” Costello said. “I feel like I look forward to practice every day.”

The Hopkinton Hillers Girls Varsity Co-op Team includes students from several area towns.

One of the things that has helped Hopkinton find its stride is its defense which is anchored by Nipmuc senior Riley Collura in goal.

“She is on a roll right now,” Costello said. “I think she has been our best player.”

The move to the net represented a position switch for Collura, who played on defense last season.

“Coming into the year, it was a little scary to have a goalie who had not played goal in some time, I don’t know what to expect,” Costello said. “But she got into a groove. She keeps making big saves and she has come up big for us all season.”

Costello is also very proud of the Hopkinton defense in front of Collura, which has five players who cycle through regularly and combine to limit the opponent’s chances. The quintet consists of Hopkinton seniors Callie Arthur and Katelyn Gaughan along with Olivia Heger and Adison Sobczak of Tri-County and Nipmuc’s Jocelyn Lomnicki. 

“I can’t say enough good things about our defense,” the coach said. “We rely on them to keep the puck out of the net, and they follow our system to a T.”

Costello acknowledged that the mindset was challenge for the girls at the start of the year with a new coach and while trying to break into the win column during a three-game losing streak,

“We were trying to build up confidence, and we are in a good spot right now, the energy is high,” he said. “We have four different schools, and that’s new for me. We have a team of people who only see each other at the rink.”

Costello said the team focused on building chemistry and culture as the season progressed. He has helped his team come together through the course of the year by trying to get them to shut out the outside world when they come to the rink for practice or a game and instead focus entirely on one another.

“Having these different schools come together, it’s tough,” he said. “But we are a family now.”