2011 Preview: Sachem East Girls Soccer

Head Coach: Ralph Forman, 6^th Season

2010 Record: 5-7-2 in League I

2011 Pre-season ranking: 4^th in League II

Top Players

• Morgan Tinari, junior, All-County midfielder
• Alie Picascio, senior, All-County defender
• Emily Hansen, junior, midfielder
• Alexa Orlando, junior defender

Key Losses

• Alyssa Gutierrez, two-time All-State goalkeeper
• Kelsey Ferguson, All-State striker/midfielder
• Kristin Butzke, All-County midfielder
• Brianna Phillips, All-Conference striker
• Victoria Hassett, All-County midfielder
• Stephanie Marino, All-League defender

Position Breakdown

“We really only have two starters back from last year,” coach Ralph Forman said. “Positions are wide open—we’re still trying to find out who’s going to start.”

Offensively, Morgan Tinari will key the offense. Gifted with speed, Forman describes her as someone’s who is “difficult to defend. She’s always a threat,” he said.

A welcome site on the attack will be fellow junior midfielder Emily Hansen. All-Conference in her freshman year, Hansen missed almost all of last year with an injury.

Through the team’s first two non-league games (beating Kings Park 1 – 0 and Riverhead 7 – 0), eight different players have scored goals. “I like that,” Forman said. “[Opposing teams] don’t know who to concentrate on.”

Defensively, Alie Picascio anchors the back line. “She’s very fast, you can’t touch her speed at defense,” Forman said. “She can track down anybody.” Joining Picascio is Alexa Orlando. “She’s a great player,” Forman said. “She plays strong. She takes all our [direct and indirect kicks, goal kicks].”

As with most positions on this team, who will start in goal is also a bit of an unsolved mystery. Both senior Gina Borga and junior Emily Carmel are battling for the chance to fill the huge vacancy left when All-State goalkeeper Alyssa Gutierrez graduated. Borga and Carmel have shared time equally in the first two games.. “They’re vying for the top spot. They’re very equal and they’re working hard,” Forman said. “If they’re still even, we’ll keep splitting the games.”

Expectations

Last year, with a lineup filled with all stars, Sachem was ranked first, with a definite aim at a league title and much more. But when six of starters were lost due to injuries, Sachem dropped its first-round playoff game against Walt Whitman.

Sachem is ranked fourth in what many consider to be Suffolk County’s most competitive league. League II features top-ranked West Islip, with Northport and Connetquot also seeded above Sachem. “Lindenhurst is much improved, and Bay Shore is a lot better than they have been in the past,” Forman said.

So Forman has set his goals a bit more modestly. “If we make the playoffs, I’ll be pleased, and then we’ll go from there,” Forman said. Not the kind of optimism one might expect from a coach who’s enjoyed much success. But this is a different Sachem squad.

“We’ve been a power, but we graduated 13,” Forman said. “It’s going to be a rebuilding year, basically with all new players. It’s going to a good challenge for us.”

Key Games:

September 23 @ Northport

October 3 vs. West Islip

October 11 vs. Connetquot