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Sports

2011 Preview: Sachem East Field Hockey

Many new faces will force East coach to "look at all the pieces" as the Arrows aim to return to a county title game.

Head Coach: Tina Moon, 12th season at East

2010 Record: 11-3 in Division I; 2-1 in playoffs

2011 Pre-season ranking: 3rd

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Top Players

  • Katie Trombetta, sophomore midfielder
  • Jessica Caruana, senior midfielder
  • Kayla McKeveny, junior forward
  • Katie Doherty, sophomore midfielder

Key Losses

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  • Jillian Donodeo, forward
  • Melissa McKeveny, midfielder
  • Jackie Morrison, defender
  • Samantha McGarry, defender

Position Breakdown

“We’re going to keep it simple, and stick to the game plan,” Moon said. That means a strong defense and an opportunistic offense.

Offensively, look for Trombetta to lead the scoring attack from her midfield position. “She was one of our leading scorers last year, Moon said.

Doherty and McKeveny will be called upon to generate scoring opportunities for an offense that has lost two juniors—forward Amanda Zaput and midfielder Jeanette Sheldrick—to pre-season injuries.

Defensively, Sachem is anchored by midfielder Caruana, a three-year varsity starter. Moon will have decisions to make as to who fills back spots left vacant by the graduation of Morrison and McGarry.

Moon will also have to make a decision in goal, where senior Samantha Alvino and junior Jordan Miller will fight for the top spot. Last year’s starter, Alvino, was removed at halftime during the season finale against Ward Melville and Miller held the Patriots scoreless in the second half. Miller than pitched shutouts in Sachem’s first two playoff games, before finally giving up an overtime goal in the county championship.

“I’m going to take [who plays goal] one game at a time,” Moon said.

Expectations

Of the 12 seniors who graduated, six were starters, so Moon will have to rebuild a team that lost to Ward Melville 1 – 0 in overtime in the 2010 Suffolk County championship. (It was the Patriot’s fourth straight title.)

“With so many new faces, It’s like a puzzle,” Moon said. “You have to look at all the pieces and see what works together.”

In addition to perennial power Ward Melville, Sachem will have its hands full with Smithtown East, plus improved Northport and Harborfields teams. And of course, Sachem North too. “It’s always good competition when we play them,” Moon said.

“This is a great bunch of girls. They were so close last year. They know what they have to do in order to get back [to the finals].”

Key Games this Month

  • September 20 @ defending Suffolk County champion Ward Melville
  • September 26 @ second-ranked Smithtown East
  • September 27 home against Sachem North
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