2010 Preview: Sachem East Girls Soccer

Sachem East girls soccer were the League I leaders of 2009, but fell short of capping that incredible run with the expected playoff pyrotechnics when it was unseated by No. 8 Sachem North early last November in a 2-1 loss in double overtime. 

With 18 players returning from last season's roster, including the core of talent that helped them reach a 13-1-1 overall record, League I opponents should be nervous about playing East again this year.

Record last year: 10-1-1 in league, 13-1-1 overall.

Head coach: Ralph Forman

League/division pre-season ranking:  No. 1 in League I

Top players

• Senior All-League midfielder Kristin Butzke
• Senior All-State striker Kelsey Ferguson
• Senior All-State goalkeeper Alyssa Gutierrez (101 saves last season) 
• Senior All-County midfielder Victoria Hassett
• Junior All-Conference defender Alyssa Picascio
• Sophomore All-Conference utility player Emily Hansen

Position breakdown

Eighteen players return this season, after the Arrows bid farewell to only four players - midfielders Lisa Luchsinger and Emily Werkmann; defenders Stephanie Dentrone and Jackie Girardi - this June. As such, Forman said the team should make up the difference in short order with the help of the aforementioned top players, all of whom Forman named as starters.

Five newcomers will join East's ranks, and although the total number of players - 23 - is down from previous seasons, Forman said this will allow much more field time and thus more confident, aggressive play all around. 

Strategically, Forman said the aim is to split the difference between offense and defense more evenly this time out.

"We want to be more balanced. We didn't score a lot of goals last year, but we were still able to shut down a lot of teams. We do have people who can shoot, so it's looking real good."

Expectations

Apart from some minor injuries due to club play, the whole roster is ready to get back to work blazing a path to the postseason. 

"North upset us and went to the finals," said Forman, who is joined by four-year assistant Jeanne Gilbert. "We were seeded first, then we got knocked off. We played outstanding, they just got that one goal. The double As in Suffolk are just ridiculous, there's a good 12 teams that could win the County."

Key games

• Patchogue-Medford - away, 9/22, 2:30 p.m; home, 10/12, 4 p.m.
• Ward Melville - home, 9/30, 4:15 p.m.; away, 10/20, 7 p.m.
• Brentwood - home, 9/24, 4 p.m.; away, 10/14, 4 p.m.

With such intense competition being standard in League I, now with the addition of former League VIII powerhouse Brentwood (10-0-0 in league, 11-4-0 overall) to the mix, Forman stressed how fateful the matches will prove.

"Pat-Med gave us a tough time, but there's just so many good teams," he said. "You have to be healthy, and you have to be lucky. It's going to be a tough run, there's no gimmes at all."