Field Hockey Notebook: Lakeland Picking up where it Left Off, PV Looking Good
Lakeland’s 5-2 win over Carmel last Thursday was probably an expected outcome, what with Molly Fitzpatrick bagging a hat trick and Gianna Bensaia adding a goal and an assist for the two-time reigning NYS Class B champions, but the fact that both Kelly Elwood and Jamie Manecky scored for the Rams is something Lakeland has to figure out before its annual run for the roses.
Take nothing away from Elwood and Manecky, two goals is two too many for a Lakeland defense to allow; okay, maybe one too many. Lakeland hadn’t allowed two or more goals in a game since a 4-3 loss to nationally ranked Darien last September 24th , and only did so twice last year and twice the year before.
Lakeland (5-0) went on to defeat host Mahopac by a 4-0 count Saturday night. Fitzpatrick, a super soph, scored two more goals and now has five on the year. Senior Kristen Conroy and junior Gabbie Celentano each scored once for the Hornets.
PUTNAM VALLEY is off and running at 4-1 after a 2-1 win over Class A RCK. Stephanie Wagner, a freshman with some game, scored off of a corner, assisted by junior Andrulisa Jones. Senior Erin McCrudden scored the final goal for PV in the second half, which she earned off of a self-started, free hit.
The Tigers have received stellar play between the pipes from captain Tori Ferraro and additionally strong two-way play from McCrudden. If things pans out the way they currently present themselves, Putnam Valley could be dueling Lakeland in the Class B semis/finals, depending on the seeds.
“This is a fine group of athletes we have here this year,” first-year PV Coach Ashley Valentine said.
Putnam Valley and Rye should continue to provide Lakeland’s primary threat to the Class B title, with PV playing slightly better than the Garnets at this point in time. Plus, the Tigers have McCrudden; a proven, consistent scoring threat over the course of her four years on the varsity beat, on their side, and a three-year varsity netminder in Ferraro.
Nyack and Harrison are teams PV should be eyeballing as well.
“Putnam Valley and Rye both look like legitimate threats in Class B,” said Sarsen, who will pay PV a visit this Friday (4:30 p.m.) in the game of the week.
In Class A, CARMEL is athletic and can make some noise.
“They played us tough,” Lakeland Coach Sharon Sarsen said of the Rams. “We had two miscues defensively, but their quickness is what made it happen.”
Mahopac has looked tough defensively, despite a 4-0 loss to Lakeland Saturday, but the Indians have to develop and strengthen their attack to be a true threat in Class A this season. That won’t happen overnight.
YORKTOWN is off to an impressive 4-1 start after a 4-2 win over Brewster last week. Alana Donovan banged the boards twice for the Huskers while Jenna Gammer and Nicole Quigley each had a goal and an assist for the winners, who rebounded nicely from its 8-1 loss to Lakeland.
JPEG captions: RAY GALLAGHER PHOTOS
Gianna Bensaia –Cassie Schüttrumpf
Lakeland captain Gianna Bensaia and Carmel captain Cassie Schüttrumpf get after it in Hornets’ 5-2 win over host Rams last Thursday.
Carmel’s Jamie Manecky scores goal in loss to Lakeland last Thursday.
Put Valley’s Erin McCrudden and the Tigers are among Class B’s top teams.
Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.
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