Sachem Soccer Alums Square Off

With the amount of former Sachem athletes playing collegiate sports, there are bound to be games where one Flaming Arrow alum is pinned against another. Thus was the case this past weekend when a handful of soccer players represented Red, Black & Country country in an exhibition between Hofstra and Marist. 

As part of the Town of Oyster bay Supervisor's Cup, a combined 19 Long Island natives suited up. Marist senior Jamie Balzarini and Hofstra redshirt freshman Britt Farriella were high school teammates at Sachem North, while Hofstra senior Tiffany Yovino and junior Laura Greene and Marist senior Daniella Burns were teammates at Sachem East.

Farriella played five years of soccer at North and was an All-County and All-League selection during her time in Lake Ronkonkoma. Yovino is entering her fourth season with the Pride and was named to the all-conference pre-season team last week.

Balzarini spent two seasons at UNC Wilmington before transferring closer to home. She was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2006 and was All-County twice while at Sachem North. Burns was a two-year letterwinner at Sachem East and led her team to an undefeated regular season, a Long Island Championship, and the New York State High School finals

Prior to the game, there was a youth clinic featuring both teams, followed by a barbecue.

The exhibition game was a final tune-up for the Pride before opening the regular season at seventh-ranked Boston College next Friday. Hofstra has its first home games on Labor Day Weekend when it hosts the Hofstra Invitational, including a game against Rhode Island on Friday, September 3.