H-ton Field Hockey Eyes
Fall Season Success
Can the Huntington High School field hockey team continue its forward momentum in the fall? The Blue Devils have their work cut out for them after losing many of their best players to graduation. Fortunately, last season’s squad boasted numerous skilled underclassmen who will be counted on now more than ever.
Huntington is coming off a 2014 campaign that saw the Blue Devils compile an overall record of 9-8, including a sudden victory upset over Northport in the Suffolk Division I playoffs.
Among the seniors the Blue Devils are losing are All-County players Darya DeSimone and Tara Byrnes, All-Conference Cassidie Giammarino and Anna Tesoriero, All-Division Kacie Rubert and All-Tournament Olivia Castillo and Ellyn Byrnes.
The Blue Devils will be hard pressed to replace the production of forward Ellyn Byrnes (nine goals and two assists) and goalie Tara Byrnes (69 saves and six shutouts) as well as the other seniors the team lost to graduation, but head coach Kathy Wright and assistant coach Marissa Bergmann are fortunate to have many other talented athletes battle tested and ready to go.
Huntington’s offense will be led by Irina DeSimone, who earned honorable mention All-County honors last fall after notching five goals and five assists at forward link.
Emma DeGennaro returns as a speedy and powerful presence on defense, with the ability to cover a lot of field area and recover the ball for Huntington. Kelly Palladino (defense), Sarah Fernandez (link-midfielder) and Elizabeth Berejka (link/defense) also played prominent roles on last year’s successful team and will be returning as veterans.
Meghan Plant, Michaela Carnesi, Grace Curran, Jessica-Rose Greene and goalie Cara Sorrentino are also coming back and will strengthen the Blue Devils’ lineup.
Huntington is tentatively scheduled to scrimmage at Sachem North and Lindenhurst on September 2 and 4 before traveling to Walt Whitman on Saturday, September 5 at 9:30 a.m. for a non-league game. The Blue Devils’ league opener is set for Wednesday, September 9 at 4:30 p.m. at Smithtown East. A series of home and away league games with North Babylon, Copiague, East Islip, Riverhead, Newfield and West Babylon will follow.