Suffolk field hockey preview
Ward Melville marched to its third straight Long Island Class A championship relatively unimpeded, suffering its only league loss to Smithtown East in the regular-season finale.
Along the way, the Patriots took a step toward claiming Island supremacy, topping Garden City, 1-0, in a non-league matchup last year. The Patriots, however, were dethroned as state champs, falling in the state semifinals on a last-minute goal. This season, heavy competition is expected to come from Sachem East, which is ranked No. 2 in the Suffolk preseason poll after reaching the quarterfinals last season.
Class A
Ward Melville returns All-American and junior national team standout Abby Beltrani. The Patriots also feature star midfielder Callie Vitalo along with Vanessa Pryor and Sam Jacobson. Goalie Lauren Tarantino had 15 shutouts and a .915 save percentage last year.
Sachem East returns all but two players. The Flaming Arrows are led by midfielder Katie Trombetta, right wing Jill Donadeo, Melissa McKevney and goalie Samantha Alvino.
"We had 18 new players last year, so we're still a young team," coach Tina Moon said. "There is pressure being the second seed and you can never take Ward Melville lightly, but we're looking to go as far as possible, and that's a championship."
Smithtown East, which was the top seed entering the playoffs and reached the final, has been the biggest threat to Ward Melville the last couple of years. But the Bulls did lose a few seniors including regional All-American Amanda Danziger. The Bulls, a strong defensive team, do return All-Long Island goalie Lauren Brennan along with forward Dani Ackerman, Megan and Shannon Rooney, Alyssa Greco and defender Alexis Annitto.
An upstart team a year ago, Northport reached the semifinals and returns most of a strong cast. The Tigers' offense will feature Gabrielle Sullivan, Kellyann Walley and Victoria Polla, and the defense is led by Lexie Nieri and goalie Gabby Gallo.
Bay Shore reached the quarterfinals last year and returns star forward Sarah Fuchs (23 points), Erin Corcoran and talented sophomore midfielder Courtney Syrett.
East Islip, which has reached the quarterfinals the last two years, returns Christine Woodrich and Laura Hill, now two years removed from shoulder surgery.
West Islip returns Alyssa Gatto, Jessica Boden and Jessica Honan and, in an odd mix, the team is comprised almost entirely of seniors and freshman. They're motivated by their 9-0 loss to Ward Melville in the quarterfinals.
Whitman lost eight seniors after an 11-4 season and has a new coach in Karen Schmitt, but the Wildcats do have back Lauren Kobel, Anna Robinson and Haley Danzig.
West Babylon got to the semifinals but must go forward without Long Island's leading scorer Courtney Baranek. Forwards Melissa Prunzion, Alexa Goebel and goalie Kelly Weisenseel lead a senior-laden roster.
Class B
Shoreham-Wading River has won three straight county titles and its only loss last season came to Garden City in the L.I. championship. The Wildcats will be led by Debi-Michelle Jantzen (a member of the bronze medal-winning junior national team), Demi Lopez, Kristin Torres and Empire State team members Kaitlyn Taddeo and Stephanie Sorrentino.
Sayville lost nine seniors but remains one of the favorites with Olivia Cabral (captain of the Empire State team and U-16 national team member), Shannon Litvin, Taylor Mills and Emily Crawford. Kerry Swike will be a first-year varsity goalie.
Miller Place, which reached the final, should again be strong with star midfielder Mary Moore, forwards Brea Greene and Kate Pouder, and defender Sam Rivera.
After a strong 2009, Rocky Point enters a rebuilding year having lost nine starters, coach Katie Bittner said. But they'll return midfielder Courtney Supper, goalie Casey Heely and talented sophomore forward Alyssa Milano.
East Hampton has reached the semifinals in back-to-back seasons and should again be in the mix. Bayport-Blue Point, with midfielder Loren Generi and forward Bri Rubenstein should also contend after going 11-4 and making the playoffs.
Class C
Port Jefferson made it to the state final for the first time but lost eight seniors. Because of that, the Royals will have to rely heavily on returnees Anastasia Lennon and Karen Holvik and defenders Gen Hydek and Aly Klinging. The Royals are led by All-Long Island goalie Maura Boehm, whose save percentage was .900 last season.
This could be the year for Pierson/Bridgehampton, which has twice taken Port Jefferson to overtime in the county final. Pierson/Bridgehampton returns most of last year's team, including senior captain Alexa Lantiere, Lindsay Warne and Sariah Cafiero.
