Sachem East Alum Bertalone Coaching at Dowling

Fresh off a successful college lacrosse career at Stony Brook, Sachem East alum Courtney Bertalone is in her first season as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Dowling.

She admits her experiences playing for Sachem East field hockey coach Tina Moon, among other coaches during her time with the Flaming Arrows, were instrumental in her approach to sports today.

“They were great coaches, teachers and guidance counselors,” she said. “They taught me a lot, not just in sports.”

Bertalone, the daughter of longtime Sachem physical education teacher and coach Al Bertalone, played one year of field hockey at Robert Morris before transferring to Stony Brook to play lacrosse.

A high school honorable mention All-American, she tallied 43 goals and 10 assists for the Seawolves in lacrosse while consistently finishing as a leader in ground balls and draw controls. A contributor to the local lacrosse community of Long Island, she has coached in the Long Island Yellow Jacket club program since 2007.  She is also a member of the Just4Girls lacrosse camp coaching staff.

At Sachem, one of her most memorable moments was scoring a goal in a field hockey playoff game against Bay Shore as a freshman.

“I always think about it,” she said. “It was such a nice moment. I always think about that one. I remember Katie Mollot and grabbed me and gave me a big hug.”

is now the head women’s lacrosse coach at SUNY Farmingdale.

Through some connections, Bertalone learned of the Dowling position and got the job, which will be a valuable learning experience in her young coaching career.

“The team is a nice, new, up and coming team,” she said. “They want it to go further and thought I could help a lot with that. I would like to help take the team as far as we can go.”

Bertalone, a Farmingville native, said she’s unsure about her career goals at this point. She’s going for her master’s degree at Dowling and is open to teaching and coaching in a high school one day as well, just like her dad and her sister Kristyna, who works in Connetquot.

She credits her father as her biggest role model. Papa Bertalone has coached everything from football to lacrosse and field hockey across Long Island.

“The man can coach anything,” she said. “When I played field hockey, he didn’t know anything about field hockey, but he could draw up plays and talk about field hockey from a coach’s standpoint. He’s left a positive mark. He taught me everything I know as a player and coach.”