Her play so sound and seemingly effortless, it’s easy to overlook everything she does for the newly minted Eastern Class A champion Red Eddies.

But in watching her play the game more closely, it is easy to see why she was a KVAC first team all-star and an Eastern Class A regional all-star selection this fall.

“At certain points in time, she’s just at a different level than some of the other people that we have,” Edward Little coach Craig Latuscha said. “She’s really picked it up.”

The Red Eddies have reached the Class A state championship game for just the second time. EL faces unbeaten Western A champion Windham at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Hampden Academy.

Hammond has been an integral part of EL’s success. She’s a stellar defender but also a quiet and composed leader. She makes good things happen and keeps the team under control when bad things happen.

“Defense doesn’t always get the recognition that it deserves,” Latuscha said. “She is definitely one of the better fullbacks we have on this team. She was playing stopper last year and I needed someone to play sweeper, and she did what she had to do for the team. She’s been a pretty dominant force back there and has really stopped a lot of potent attacks of other teams.”

EL graduated a stellar defender in Danny Rock at sweeper, and Hammond had to take on that role. She said it was a seamless transition.

“I knew I had to do what she did last year and try to step it up and take her place,” Hammond said. “I knew I had a great defense in front of me and a great midfield and offense. I had a team in front of me and a goalie in back of me.”

Hammond has been a driving force and leader from the back. When she isn’t make the standout defensive plays, she’s supporting the offense. She’s also a stabilizing force that helps settle the Eddies down when needed.

“She’s a, ‘Yes, Coach,’ type of kid,” Latuscha said. “She’ll run through a wall for us. She does what is right and always does what’s best for our team. If I need her to play keeper, she’ll play keeper. If I need her to play striker, she can play striker.”

Latuscha often calls her “Bobby Orr” in reference to the Boston Bruins’ legendary offensive defenseman, because she can move up to the front and take a free kick or make a play in the offense and then race back defensively.

Joining Hammond on the Edward Little defensive unit this season were senior Hannah Smith and junior Morgan Knowlton, a pair of returning players with solid experience. Sophomore Kaylee Jipson is a new starter this year. Keeper Molly Murray is a senior. Both Murray and Smith were Eastern A all-stars, as was midfielder Calli Murray, the goalie’s twin sister. 

Hammond knows she can’t do her job on her own, and she trusts and empowers the players around her. She plays steady, plays calm and makes the right plays. She serves as an influence and example for her teammates.

“I know I need to keep my composure so that they can keep their composure,” Hammond said. “I know you have to stick together and be a team.”

Hammond started playing soccer when she was young. She’s become a three-sport athlete at EL, playing basketball in the winter and softball in the spring.

“It’s hard to say which is my favorite,” Hammond said. “In season, soccer is probably my favorite sport. Soccer is great. I love it.”

Her brother, Michael, was a standout player for the EL boys’ soccer program and graduated last year. Following in his footsteps is something she’s always wanted to do.

“Michael has always been my idol,” said Hammond, whose brother is attending the University of Maine. “He’s always been my older brother and someone I looked up to. He’s always been someone I aspired to be like.”

She smiled as she acknowledged that her team has done something her brother never did with the boys’ program, and Hammond’s stellar play has been a significant part of that success. A perfect ending to such a memorable year would be backstopping her Red Eddies to a win Saturday.

“I didn’t expect us to get this far, to be honest,” Hammond said. “It was always something that we dreamed of. It was one of our goals — beating the teams that we lost to last year. I couldn’t be more excited.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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