Sports
2011 Preview: Sachem North Boys and Girls Golf
See how the coaches feel their squads will fare on the links this season.
The North boys and girls golf teams are on two different sides of the fence. On one side, the boys squad believes it can compete with the top schools in the area for a league championship. On the other side, the girls will be facing a rebuilding year, having lost their top-two starters from last season.
North Boys Golf
2010 Record: 11-3
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Head coach: Anthony Falco, 6th season
Key Loses: Sachem North lost four seniors from last year's team, who finished second behind undefeated King's Park.
Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Player to Watch for: William Ruth, junior. "He's been playing since freshman year and was a captain last year, and will be again this year," said coach Falco, who said Ruth's growth since last season has made him a more powerful driver. "He's hitting on all cylinders," he said.
Expectations: Even after losing four key members from last year's team, Falco believes his young group can compete with the best teams in the league, and will battle for a league title. "I really feel we can go 12-2, and hopefully maybe upset Kings Park in one [game]," he said. "Our goal is to be league champs."
Key Matchups: April 6 against Sachem East, April 13 against Kings Park
North Girls Golf
2010 Record- 0-10
Head Coach: Claude Amallobieta, 2nd season
Key Loses: Ariel Lindstrom and Sarah Rizzick graduated last year, leaving big holes in North's roster. Both competed in the county tournament last season, with Rizzick making the second-cut. They were North's top two players.
Players to Watch for: Although coach Amallobieta said there was no clear-cut top golfer on the roster, he said junior Yasaman Soroush and sophomore Sam Cogglin, both returning from last season, are at the top.
He said Soroush is a leader on this very young team, which consists of two 7th graders and two 9th graders.
Expectations: "We have the potential to be a very good team two years from now," said Amallobieta. "We're definitely in a learning mode this year. We can surprise a team or two in a close match, but will have trouble with Mount Sinai and Ward Melville."
