Ward Melville's Beltrani led by example

It didn't take a soothsayer to foresee Abby Beltrani reaching the level she did, just observation. Coaches and teammates saw "it'' when she made varsity as an eighth-grader. Long Island got a glimpse of the potential in her freshman year, a good look in 10th grade, and by her junior year, the national field hockey scope had a clear view of the Ward Melville star.

By then, the accolades had grown and Beltrani was on Page 2 of her athletic resume. She'd won a state title, earned all-county honors for the third time, been named an All-American, helped the junior national team win bronze in the Pan-American Games, and already had committed to Duke.

There was little to prove individually, just a response to the oft-posed questions for a great athlete: Can she lead? Elevate her team?

The graduation of seven seniors, including All-American Georgia Holland, made Ward Melville her team. As well, the gap between the Patriots and their rivals had narrowed. A year ago, Beltrani, a bit unsure how she'd fare as the leader, said Holland's shoes "can't be filled. I mean, she's Georgia Holland.''

But with each point and crucial defensive stand, with each step her 18-2 team took, another question was answered. By season's end, the doubts had been shooed away - Ward Melville had its fourth straight Long Island Class A title and Beltrani was a first-team All-American.

Those credentials, along with her 24 goals and 10 assists, earned Beltrani Newsday's field hockey Player of the Year.

"With all the seniors lost, I don't think a lot of people thought we'd get as far,'' she said of her team reaching the state semifinals. "We might've exceeded expectations.''

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Beltrani too, perhaps. She transformed from passer to finisher as her role changed, and added 10 points to last season's total. "From the get-go, she knew where she wanted the team to go and made every effort to get us there,'' coach Shannon Watson said of her center-midfielder.

There were several big goals in the regular season - as the Patriots went undefeated in Suffolk - and then the winner late against Northport in the county semifinals, and the deciding goals against Massapequa in the Long Island championship. This, despite being the focus of opposing defenses.

Beltrani's older sister, Katie, played field hockey, and Abby picked it up in seventh grade on a whim. "True athleticism'' brought her to varsity the following season, Watson said. That year, Ward Melville's season ended in the county final with an overtime loss to Smithtown East, but . . .

"I'd never seen anyone play as hard as Shaylyn Blaney did that day,'' Beltrani said of her former teammate. "She never gave up, ever . . . I didn't play, but I soaked in everything.''

Beltrani quit basketball and club lacrosse to make field hockey her focus. The next three years her skills were honed and Holland "taught me how to lead.''

Beltrani grew into somewhat an amalgamation of her influences. As a senior she became a vocal leader, debuted an array of new moves and show-stopping shots (including her signature reverse chip), and took time to impart knowledge to teammates.

"The best players make others around them better,'' Watson said. "She's been everything a coach could ever want.''

Vanessa Pryor, a teammate and close friend, said losing Beltrani is "something I've thought about a lot . . . It's a huge void and I don't think one person can fill it.''

After all, she's Abby Beltrani.