Sports
2011 Preview: Sachem North Field Hockey
A highly-competitive division coupled with a shortage of experience on the backline will test the Arrows.
Head Coach: Elizabeth O’Hara, 3rd Year
2010 Record: 10-4; 1-1 in playoffs
2011 Pre-season ranking: 5th in Division I
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Top Players
- Rebecca Teta, senior defender
- Chelsea Palma, junior goalie
- Jessica Smalling, junior midfielder
- Victoria Schmidt, senior forward
Key Losses
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- Andrea Licostie, center midfielder
- Lauren Waka, defense
- Jessica Sweeney, defense
- Lindsey Spatola, forward
Position Breakdown
Returning only three field starters, O’Hara has holes to fill. Lots of them.
“I have tons of gaps. That’s what we’re doing now. Filling the gaps, especially at midfield and defense,” O’Hara said. “The kids that came up [from junior varsity] are all forwards. I don’t need nine forwards.”
Offensively, the graduation of Andrea Licostie has created one of the larger gaps, O’Hara said. “She did a great job scoring off of corners. She’s a huge loss for us.” Jessica Smalling will step in as O’Hara’s primary hitter. “She got playing time last year, but not as a starter,” O’Hara said. Schmidt will also add much-needed offensive punch.
“I prefer to have an aggressive team,” O’Hara said. “Right now, they’re a little timid.”
Rebecca Teta will anchor a work-in-progress defensive lineup. But their biggest weapon may be in goal with Chelsea Palma. Described by O’Hara as “a phenomenal athlete,” the junior is beginning her third year on varsity. “She’s very aggressive, she challenges her opponents,” O’Hara said.
Expectations
Division I is loaded with top-caliber teams. In addition to defending county champion Ward Melville, Sachem will find the going tough against Smithtown East, Northport, Harborfields, and of course, rival Sachem East. For O’Hara, that contest is even more special, as she once played for East coach Tina Moon. “Tina’s a phenomenal coach and a great person,” O’Hara said. But it’s not a contest that O’Hara is necessarily looking forward to.
“We haven’t played them the past two seasons, and it can be frustrating when we do play them because my girls sometimes get psyched out.”
How Sachem will fair will depend a lot on the emergence of younger players coming up and filling needs. But no one is guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup.
“I tell my team that every day is a tryout,” O’Hara said. “I’m going to put the best 11 players on the field. And that might change every game.”
Key Games This Month
- September 14 home against Ward Melville
- September 15 home against Smithtown East
- September 27 @ Sachem East
