Last year Fox Lane registered a 10-4-1 mark, including a 3-1 playoff triumph against Clarkstown South in the opening round of the Section 1 Class A tournament.
Fox Lane coach Melissa Heyde, a 2000 Somers graduate who was an all-state center-back while playing for the Tuskers, feels confident that the squad she has this fall will keep up the Foxes’ successful program.
One reason why Heyde feels so good about her team’s chances for success this fall is the return of senior midfielder Lexi Cannon, a three-year starter who leads by example.
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“She has been a workhorse in the program since she started,” Heyde said. “She has great field vision, she has a great keen sense of the game. She is very smart on the field. For Lexi, this is her year to shine.”
For senior defender Jackie Colao, this is her third year on varsity. Last year she started as a junior and as a sophomore she was a key reserve.
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“Jackie’s strength is her speed,” Heyde said. “She is lightning fast. This is her year to step up and be the anchor of our defense.”
Two other key seniors for the Foxes are midfielder Victoria Dey and forward Sydney Rozins. Both have a year on the varsity under their belt and have helped lead the younger ones during the preseason.
“All four seniors lead by example,” Heyde said. “They want to keep Fox Lane a strong program.”
“We have had a corp of people, including this year’s seniors, who have really worked hard to make this program what it has become,” Heyde continued. “On and off the field we have the mentality of being like a family.”
Fox Lane will need that mentality after being hit hard by graduation.
“We lost three-all-section players last year and eight seniors so our goal this year is to fill those gaps and just continue to play hard and play strong like we have the last couple of years,” Heyde said.
The Foxes will open at home against Croton-Harmon at 4:15 Sept. 8.
“The first game of the year is always important,” Heyde said. “It helps set a tone for the rest of the season. We have two play dates prior to that so we are hoping to get the kinks out before then. We want to start off strong and set the tone for the rest of the season.”
