Mackenzie Clarke is a midfielder, but she is still the top scoring threat for the Belmont field hockey team.
The senior captain fired in 39 goals and assisted on 20 last fall, powering the Marauders to the Division 1 quarterfinals.
In the offseason, she worked to refine her transition game while playing right back for the Northeast Elite club team. Now the focus is on her senior season at Belmont, where she will anchor a promising midfield group.
“Last year, we had a decently strong midfield,” she said. “Going into this year, the incoming players are very strong, which should help our team.”
Belmont is not alone.
A number of teams are shifting away from the old-school formation of two defenders, three midfielders, and five forwards, and embracing turf-driven strategies emphasizing ball control, speed, and quick transitions.
Coaches are realizing that a deep, versatile midfield can control the game’s flow.
Belmont coach Jessica Smith built this year’s midfield to be “the engine,” with Mia Smith, Niamh Lesnik, and Clarke as starters. Elsie Lakin-Schultz, a starting defender, also will contribute in the midfield.
“The team relies on fitness and speed, and [midfielders] are the connectors between defense and offense,” Smith said.
Kerri Doherty, who played in a traditional 4-3-3 system at Lynnfield before returning to her alma mater as head coach, built her lineup around five adaptable midfielders, including captain Izzy Fiorentino, previously a forward.
“What’s challenging is, when you’re facing an opponent, people need to drop into the right spots,” Doherty said. “Having a strong midfield is huge for that. It’s an integral part of the game.”
At Wellesley, coach Erin Stickle leans on her midfield to speed up the pace. This season, she hopes senior captains Sydney Kim and Kayla Bohlin will create offensive opportunities and keep up with the game’s faster tempo.
“People felt like Kayla should be on the forward line, but having forwards in front of her really allows us to gain some momentum,” Stickle said. “I think the balance of Sydney’s finesse and Kayla’s speed is going to allow our team to dominate [in the midfield].”
In today’s game, being a midfielder requires skill and commitment. Stickle, a midfielder and forward at Nazareth College, expects her players to have the endurance to power fast transitions and recover if their opponent gets a breakaway.
“[Midfielders] need to be either really quick setting up defense to block anybody, or think quickly about how they want to take advantage of that self-start,” Stickle said.
The 15-year varsity coach says the best midfielders can adapt to multiple styles.
In Lynnfield, Doherty believes the rise of youth programs has given players more time to develop their skills.
The UConn-bound Clarke, who also plays ice hockey and lacrosse, embodies versatility. Playing defense for Northeast Elite has further strengthened her passing and distribution, making her even more effective in the midfield.
In last year’s Division 1 tournament, Clarke took note that having equally strong players on her sides and Lakin-Schultz in the backfield maximized their offensive opportunities.
“I did notice I was marked a lot more in the tournament,” she said. “It’s harder to work the ball around when you don’t have a center-mid to pass to, so there needs to be people around you.”
In her 40th season at Watertown, with 777 career wins and 22 state titles, coach Eileen Donahue credits her success to the ability to mold players and put them where they can be most effective.
“I don’t base it on each kid, whether they’re fast or strong or have strong stick skills,” Donahue said. “You’re trying to mold someone to where they can be the most successful.”
But, she emphasized, adaptability defines the modern game.
“It depends on the players,” Donahue said. “Obviously, you’ve have to have a good defense to get your offense going for transitional play. So, some of our people who might have been backs are learning to play mid.”
Across the Bay State, teams are finding success by diversifying their midfield. These players are more than connectors between the defense and offense; they control the tempo, execute transitions, and shape plays.
Corner hits
▪ With a referee shortage, a number of youth field hockey programs, particularly north of Boston, are recruiting high school students to officiate.
The student referees complete on- and off-the-field training, with points of emphasis game management, assignments, and general rule overview.
“I’m finding that some of these girls are back for their third year because they’re enjoying it so much,” said Joanne Lavender, head of Baystate Youth Field Hockey officiating. “Who knows? Hopefully, eventually they’ll offset the shortage.”
The program experienced a significant jump in participation, from 50 to 70 in one year. There’s been growing demand, from towns previously without youth field hockey clubs or even high school teams.
“I think it’s made field hockey a more popular sport,” said Lindsay Minton, a rising senior at Melrose High and two-year participant in the youth officiating program. “More towns are starting to start their youth programs and getting kids started earlier to have a better high school program.”
▪ Three local players announced their commitments over the summer: Belmont junior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz is headed to Brown, Lincoln-Sudbury three-year varsity starter Blaire Brennan will play for Trinity, and Walpole’s Nadia Michienzi intends to play at Union.
Correspondent Alexandria Evans contributed to this story.
Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.