Perennial power Garden City tops CSH
Garden City defender Linda Marie Attanasio. Credit: James Escher
Oh, Garden City graduated 11 seniors, most of its stars among them. With so many first-time starters, the divide between the Trojans and their rivals has narrowed. Oh, this could be that year they finally take a step back.
Oh, please.
It took less than 12 minutes Wednesday for this Garden City field hockey team to introduce itself and remind all that little more than the names has changed.
Linda Attanasio, camped on the wing, deflected in a low liner that Victoria Piscopo sent from atop the circle with 18:44 left in the first half, and the host Trojans went on to beat Cold Spring Harbor, 3-0.
This game was a rematch of last year's Class B county final, and its score was identical to the one that brought Garden City its 17th straight Nassau championship.
"We have a lot of big shoes to fill and everyone has to step up in order for us to stay at this level," Attanasio, a senior, said. "We're excited to show everyone that we can."
The point was made against the Seahawks, a Conference I rival that twice tied them in regular-season games the previous two years.
Piscopo had two assists, Charlotte Castronovo and Elizabeth Furman each had a goal, and Allison Miller made two saves for the Trojans (2-0).
"They're a great team, so this really sets a tone early," Castronovo said. "We were able to control the ball and keep it on the attacking end."
As evidenced by Taylor Striar's 10 saves for Cold Spring Harbor (1-1), and the Trojans' 14 penalty corners. Furman's goal, off a short pass from Piscopo, made it 3-0 with 8:24 to go in the first half.
The defense, which has long been a staple of this program, again looked impenetrable.
"We know Cold Spring Harbor likes to take big hits, so we dropped back a little more and I played some [sweeper] to make sure nothing got past us," said Liz Kane, the lone senior on defense.
"It's a young team, but we have depth and all the good vibes are there," Piscopo said. "I can feel it. This team has a lot of potential."
Oh, it certainly looks that way.
