Field Hockey: Lakeland Gold Wins Championship

The Hudson Valley Summer Field Hockey League's championship game pitted two teams that are made up of players from the same school in Lakeland Gold and Lakeland Green.

"Starting off the game I knew it was going to be a challenge," Lakeland Gold's Emma Bozek said. "Each team has a lot of pride. We each know how good our opponent is. We knew coming into the game that we were really going to have to work hard in order to beat the other Lakeland team."

Bozek's five goals and an assist led her squad to a 9-6 triumph against Lakeland Green Monday evening, August 9, at Putnam Valley High School.

Kristen Conroy, who tallied two goals and an assist, gave the Green a 1-0 lead with an assist coming from Leanne Goldblatt, who later scored two goals herself.

"It was a lot different playing a team where you know all the other players," Conroy said. "In one way it was better because you knew exactly what they were going to do." 

The Gold broke through after Conroy's goal, scoring the game's next four goals to go up 4-1, with three of them coming from Bozek. The first of those goals came off a rebound after Green goalie Amanda DiDomizio had made numerous acrobatic saves.

"In the first half we were really connecting on passes which gave an opening on the offense," Bozek said. "That opening allowed quick shots to get off and their goalkeeper, Amanda DiDomizio, made some great saves in the first half. We kept the pressure on and were able to knock in a few goals."

Scoring three times and registering an assist for the Gold was Shannon Scavelli, with whom Bozek has developed quite a rapport over the years.

"We always look for each other on the field, connect with each other," Bozek said. "It's just our experience of playing together. We have played with each other for so long, it really helps us on the field."

Gianna Bensaia also contributed to the Gold's title effort with a goal.

For Bozek, the championship was the culmination of a highly successful summer. She also won a gold medal in the Empire State Games in addition to being named to the 17-and-under junior national team.

"I didn't go in thinking that I was going to make the junior national team," Bozek said. "I gave it my all. I didn't know how the outcome was going to turn out. I'm just so happy I made the team. It shows that all five years of my hard work in playing field hockey has paid off. I can't wait for what the future has for field hockey."

Joining Conroy and Goldblatt in the box score for the Green team were Colleen Murray and Nikki Schultz with a goal apiece in a contest that players on each side enjoyed playing in.

"We had more the defense, they had more the offense," Conroy said. "It was a good game."