Season Preview: Fox Lane Field Hockey

Nellie Mitchell sensed a transition with the Fox Lane varsity field hockey program in her freshman year.

The Foxes were playing good hockey, were in every game and their record progressed, from the previous year, under then coach Heather Miller.

In 2008, former Somers and Cortland standout Melissa Heyde became the new varsity coach. Even though Fox Lane welcomed a new coach, the Foxes would show they were still ascending as a team.

Fox Lane won 11 games in Heyde's first year and advanced to sectionals. Last year, playing a tougher schedule, Fox Lane won eight games and won its first-round sectional game.

The Foxes are planning to continue their rise during the 2010 season, and they have the talent to do so.

"I am really happy because I feel we've continued to improve each year," said Mitchell, Fox Lane's leading scorer last year. "We're playing tougher teams and this is challenging ourselves to continue to get better.

"In my sophomore year, we wanted to make a name for ourselves in field hockey, and I think we did. Last year, we really wanted it, even more."

Fox Lane established itself in 2008 and had an all-state selection in current senior Lindsay Toppe.

Toppe and Mitchell headline a talented, veteran senior nucleus that has made an impact on the program. Mitchell returns to the forward line with Toppe at center mid. Aly Dowey lines up at center back with classmate Sophia Ohler on defense also. The forward line has depth and versatility with Caroline Bowers, Haley Scallon and Allie Agins, along with Mitchell. Vanessa Darling returns in goal, replacing the graduated Jenn Pollack.

Fox Lane has a junior quartet back with Jackie Colao on defense, Lexi Cannon and Alison Lombardi in the midfield and Jackie Gigante in goal. Cannon and Lombardi, also a standout softball pitcher, will try to compensate for the graduation of Kim Gigante, a steady, consistent force last year.

In preparation for the season, Heyde had dinner with her seniors the day before practice began. Heyde said it was an enjoyable evening with her seniors, as they discussed what they want to accomplish.

"They were so excited and ready for Fox Lane to be a contender in Section 1," said Heyde, whose younger sister, Amanda, is the starting goalie for Hofstra. "They're determined this season and they are great leaders. They want to be positive role models for the younger players in the program."

Fox Lane showed Heyde it was ready to go. Recently, the Foxes participated in a five-team scrimmage at Mamaroneck. The Foxes joined Connecticut state champion Darien, Greenwich (CT) and reigning Section 1 Class A and C titlists, Mamaroneck and Bronxville, respectively.

"It was incredibly beneficial and we were so grateful for the opportunity to play," Mitchell said. "We were playing against teams that we respect, and now we know we can get to that level."

Fox Lane will not be satisfied with duplicating last year. In order to surpass last year, Fox Lane began working immediately following the 2009 season. The Foxes played in the winter league, which features some of the top programs in Section 1, at the Brewster Sports Dome. This, along with added attention during the summer, has the Foxes ahead of last year.

"The new players have fit in well and it's good we have an established group," Mitchell said. "We know how to play together and that gave us a head start on team bonding.

"It's really exciting because all of us have the same desire to go farther. We got a taste of it and now we want it more."