Garden City, Ward Melville, Pierson/B'hampton seek titles

Three Long Island field hockey teams will venture to Syracuse Thursday, with two seeking redemption and the other respect.

Garden City and Ward Melville, perennial powers and 2008 state champions, are out to avenge last year's semifinal upsets. Pierson/Bridgehampton, never a champion and eight years removed from the state scene, wants to reintroduce itself.

After winning the Class C Long Island title for the first time since 2002, the Whalers will gladly make the 360-mile drive - westbound and up - from Bridgehampton. They have eight seniors and believe it's their turn.

"I told them the first day this season that we're going to states," coach Shannon Judge said, "and here we are."

The Whalers play well defensively and, though they aren't a high-powered offense, have a knack for scoring late and making plays in the clutch. The team cut its teeth in a tough division with Class B powers Shoreham-Wading River, Miller Place and Rocky Point.

They're led by senior captains Lindsay Warne (18 points) and Alexa Lantiere, and Sarah Barrett and Katherine Matthers have delivered big goals in the playoffs. Catherine Musnicki has a .916 save percentage in the postseason.

Garden City won a sixth straight Long Island title and is after a seventh state championship. The Trojans are as dominant as their resume suggests, having outscored opponents 85-3. They've got great depth and have been able to persevere through injuries. They're usually able to dictate the pace and spend a great deal of time in the scoring circle, which is a product of their pressure defense that forces numerous turnovers.

Juniors Alexandra Bruno (32 points) and Catherine McTiernan (20) emerged as scorers, and senior captains Mikaela Rix and Caroline Tarzian are great playmakers. Goalies Laura Fanning and Allison Miller have totaled 15 shutouts, and Catherine Dickinson and Gabrielle Nesi anchor the lock-down defense.

Ward Melville captured its fourth straight Long Island Class A championship. Last year the Patriots lost on a late goal in the state semis after dominating but failing to capitalize on 18 penalty corners. The players have vowed it won't happen again.

Standing in the Patriots' way is defending champion Williamsville North, the team they beat in the 2008 final, and the one that beat them in the 2007 semis.

Ward Melville plays swarming defense, and its aggressive, attacking offense earns lots of penalty corners. The Patriots have outscored opponents 65-12, and their only loss came to Garden City in non-league.

They have a strong midfield that features Abby Beltrani (34 points), Callie Vitalo and Vanessa Pryor, each of whom has scored key goals in the playoff run. They also have formidable forwards in Kim Geiger and Sam Jacobson (18 points), and goalie Lauren Tarantino has an .898 save percentage.