Fall Sports Preview: Ward Melville Teams Prep for Tough Competition

There are championships to be defended this season, as Ward Melville High School gears up for the fall. Three varsity teams are looking to reclaim Long Island and Suffolk County titles, with other programs not far behind.

Football

Last season: 2-6

Head coach: Rob Neugebauer

Preseason ranking: No. 14 in Division I

Key players

• Senior quarterback Pat O'Hea
• Senior linebacker Mike Corrie
• Senior linebacker Joe Biro
• Senior receiver Tyler Hegarty
• Sophomore fullback/linebacker Brendon Hegarty
• Senior runningback Zach Zanone

Rob Neugebauer has stepped into the role of head coach after two previous seasons as an assistant, and right away began working on a new offense he feels will play to the team's strengths. "In years past we were more of a spread offense," he said. "We were more run-and-shoot. Our goal right now is to be a ball-control offense. We want to be able to control and dictate the tempo of the game."

Key games: Sept. 7 at Commack (season opener); Oct. 16 versus Brentwood (Homecoming)

Read our Suffolk Division I Football Preview here.

Girls' Volleyball

Last season: 21-0; won Suffolk County AA championship

Head coach: Charlie Fernandes

Key players

• Junior setter Lauren O'Hern
• Senior outside hitter Haley Blunt
• Senior middle hitter Leighanne Brazier
• Senior libero Alexa Stonish

The Patriots' girls volleyball program has won six of the last seven Suffolk County championships and is the defending Long Island champion as well, after posting an unbeaten season in League I. The team begins its title defense Sept. 13 at home against Sachem East. "We're going to set very aggressive goals," coach Charlie Fernandes said. "This is for real."

Key games: Oct. 14 at Lindenhurst (rematch of 2008 county final); Oct. 15 at Smithtown East (rematch of 2009 county final)

Girls' Tennis

Last season: 6-4

Head coach: Judy Martin

Key players: Junior Karen Singer (first singles)

The Patriots' youth may be a factor this season, with sophomores filling the second, third, and fourth singles spots. Coach Judy Martin has been focusing on the development of the doubles teams as well. "If you can get strong first singles and first doubles, it's a momentum builder," Martin said. "Nothing succeeds like success."

Key matches: Sept. 14 at Bayport-Blue Point; Sept. 16 versus Miller Place; Sept. 20 at Mount Sinai

Girls' Swimming

Last season: 10-0; won Suffolk County championship

Head coach: Chris Gordon

Key players

• Senior Shannon Lampe (100 back, 50 free, 100 fly)
• Senior Taylor DaSilva (50 free, 100 free)
• Senior Rebecca Lopez (diving)
• Senior Lyndsey Isaksen (50 free, 100 fly, 100 free)
• Junior Jessica Fabrizio (200 free, 500 free)

One club looking to continue a historic era of success is the Ward Melville girls' swimming team. The Patriots are a bona fide dynasty, having won 18 consecutive Suffolk County championships, beginning in 1992. The last time they lost a dual meet was six years ago to Sayville. But coach Chris Gordon isn't taking anything for granted, and treats each season like a new challenge. "I never count on anything. All we can do is work as hard as we can," Gordon said.

Key meets: Oct. 4 versus Connetquot

Field Hockey

Last season: 21-2; lost in Class AA state semifinal

Head coach: Shannon Watson

Key players

• Senior goalie Lauren Tarantino
• Senior midfielder Abby Beltrani
• Junior midfielder Vanessa Pryor

Ward Melville is a three-time Long Island and Suffolk County field hockey champion. With 11 seniors on this year's team, the seniors' performance will be a key factor in the team's success. "We're really looking for our seniors to step up in all different aspects," coach Shannon Watson said. "It's a well-balanced group we're hoping can push the entire team to where we were last year."

Key matches: Sept. 21 at Northport; Sept. 25 versus Smithtown East (rematch of 2009 Class A final); Oct. 2 at Garden City; Oct. 6 at Sachem East

Boys' Volleyball

Last season: 13-5

Head coach: Enrico Chacon

Key players

• Senior outside hitter Eric Rizzo
• Senior right side Luke Alventosa
• Junior setter Greg Meisner

Ward Melville's boys' volleyball team advanced to the Suffolk County playoff semifinals last year, and looks to continue its success in 2010, beginning Sept. 15 at Smithtown East. There's an added element of competition at stake this year, as this season will conclude with the inaugural state boys' volleyball tournament. With nine seniors gone from last year's playoff team, coach Enrico Chacon knows it will be a challenge to make it to the playoffs. But Chacon says the team plays smart volleyball and learns quickly, so he sees some promise ahead.

Key matches: Sept. 24 versus Commack; Oct. 1 at Lindenhurst; Oct. 7 versus Half Hollow Hills (rematch of 2009 semifinal)

Boys' Cross Country

Last season: 1-4

Head coach: Jerry Vessichio

Key players

• Senior Kurt Steinmuller
• Sophomore Alex Fitzgerald
• Sophomore Vincent Cicale

The boys' cross country team graduated the top runner in Ward Melville history, Quinn Raseman, who last year qualified for the Foot Locker National Championships. "We're going to be better than last year, but we're still young," said coach Jerry Vessichio, heading into his eighth year as coach. Whereas last year injuries were a factor, the team has more depth this year to be able to cope with unexpected occurrences.

Key meets: Sept. 21 at Lindenhurst

Girls' Cross Country

Last season: 5-0

Head coach: Tom Youngs

Key players

• Senior Mary Kate Anselmini
• Senior Sami Reilly
• Junior Caroline O'Hea

The Patriots' girls' cross country team is riding a remarkable streak of 43 consecutive dual meet victories over nine seasons, a run that took the squad to an unbeaten League II title and a second-place finish at the county championships. Only two of the team's seven scorers graduated. Leading this year's charge is senior Mary Kate Anselmini, the national steeplechase champion in track last year. "One of the things we believe in is tradition doesn't graduate," coach Tom Youngs said. "They're pretty dedicated and they know that in order to do well they have to do their homework."

Key meets: Brown Invitational at Brown University, Oct. 16

Boys' Golf

Last season: 12-0

Head coach: Bob Spira

Key players

• Senior Tom Jannace
• Junior Dominick Reila
• Junior Chris Brosi
• Junior Tim Mirocco

The Patriots lost four seniors from last season's undefeated squad, but return four of its top players. "You need a solid six players to really be competitive as a team," Coach Bob Spira said. "We're looking at building the depth in our team."

Key matches: Sept. 15 at Shoreham-Wading River; Oct. 7 versus Shoreham-Wading River

Boys' Soccer

Last season: 13-4-1

Head coach: Jon Stecker

Key players

• Senior midfielder Christian Marcel
• Senior goalkeeper Matt Kerman
• Senior midfielder Alex Guadagno
• Junior fullback Shane Dineen

Ranked No. 2 in Suffolk, the Patriots are talented but young, according to coach Jon Stecker. The core of the team is juniors with only four senior starters. In terms of skill, the team is fast and controlled. "These guys have the baility to possess the ball and really move it around," Stecker said.

Key games: Sept. 16 at St. Anthony's, Sept. 23 versus Brentwood, Oct. 5 at Commack

Girls' Soccer

Last season: 9-5-3

Head coach: John Diehl

Key players

• Senior midfielder Morgan Governale
• Junior goalkeeper Ally Ramos
• Junior midfielder Lizzy Rullan
• Junior midfielder Jordan Poretto
• Junior forward Caysea Cohen

With eight returning starters, including 2009's leading scorer Caysea Cohen, the girls' soccer team may be poised for a breakthrough season. The midfield is solid, the defense is experienced, and the team's conditioning is strong, according to coach John Diehl. "We're working on shooting, on creating scoring opportunities, and finishing," he said. "We struggled finding the net last year, so we're making that a priority."

Key games: Sept. 13 versus East Islip, Sept. 24 at Commack, Oct. 4 versus Patchogue-Medford