Field Hockey Preview: Lakeland Hornets

Six members of Lakeland's field hockey squad have had a winning streak for the past 12 months.

Emma Bozek, Amanda DiDomizio, Leanne Goldblatt, Chelsea Remling, Shannon Scavelli and Nikki Schultz played for last year's Hornet squad that won the Class B state championship with a 22-0-1 record. This summer they were members of the Hudson Valley squad that won the gold medal at the Empire State Games in Buffalo, under the direction of Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen.

The six of them also played on either Lakeland Gold or Lakeland Green, the two teams which competed in the Hudson Valley Summer Field Hockey League championship game.

With such strong players, Lakeland has a good chance of winning another state title, but Sarsen said there is a long way to go before her team could even start thinking about that.

"We're not looking at the states right now," Sarsen said. "Ultimately, down the road we will be looking there. I want to try and get all the pieces together, try to get the younger kids to play at a higher intensity and we'll try to get the best team on the field."

Bozek and Scavelli, both athletic junior forwards, lead the Hornets on the offensive end.

"They have been playing the game for a long time and they really have great skills," Sarsen said. "They are good kids. They just keep getting better. They are the type of kids that come to the turf all the time and on their off-time practice new things and new tricks and challenge themselves. They play all the time, not just 12 months a year but even on their off days."

Schultz and Goldblatt, both seniors, are the Hornets mainstays in the midfield. They have been on the varsity team since their freshman years.

"Nikki is a fireplug," Sarsen said. "She just gives us so much energy and intensity and is a defensive stopper as well as an offensive creator. Leanne reads the game really well. She's got excellent skills, is pretty much our quarterback of the attack from the right side."

When it comes to defense, Remling is in charge of that side of the field.

"Chelsea is one of the top one-on-one defenders in the section," Sarsen said. "Her skills are solid despite her size. She's a strong kid. She can definitely pass as well as defend. Her basketball background really gives her an advantage because she sees the field really well."

What the Hornets need on defense is a few other players that can join Remling in helping shutdown the opposition's attack.

"We need defenders that not only can defend but pass out of the backfield," Sarsen said. "That's our biggest challenge coming into the season because we lost three dominant defenders from last year's senior class. I think that's probably the biggest question mark and biggest challenge as we go into the season."

DiDomizio, is also another member who has been on the Hornets team since her freshman year and brings plenty of experience to the field plenty of experience.

"The section and state tournament last year Amanda really grew into a dominant goalkeeper," Sarsen said. "That was her defining time."

Lakeland's backup goalie in junior Krista Servedio.

"Krista is so aggressive," Sarsen said. "She's really challenges herself, she's not intimidated at all. She's proactive, she picked it up in her freshman year and has done well."

Another key contributor will be sophomore Gianna Bensaia, who has improved dramatically according to Sarsen. Bensaia was the only freshman on the team last year and Sarsen expects her to have a dominant role this fall at either outside back or outside-mid.

Junior defender Allie O'Mara and senior midfielder Courtney Stokes are also expected to play important roles on this year's Hornet squad.

2010 Lakeland Schedule

Sept. 15 @ John Jay-CR 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 16 @ Putnam Valley 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 Arlington 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 23 @ Mahopac 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 27 Yorktown 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 Ketcham 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 1 @ Putnam Valley Tournament 5 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Putnam Valley Tournament 12 or 2 p.m.

Oct. 5 @ John Jay East-Fishkill 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 @ Ossining 11 a.m.

Oct. 12 @ Ketcham 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 13 Lourdes 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 19 Putnam Valley 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 John Jay-EF 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 @ Arlington 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 27 @ Lourdes 4:15 p.m.