Pardon me if I sound a little giddy about the week of Oct. 1. I can’t contain my enthusiasm, because as far as field hockey goes, it doesn’t get any better than this. This is a week for the players, coaches, fans and scary-looking field hockey beat writers to enjoy. My colleagues think I’m crazy because I’ve been talking about this week for quite some time.

All I can say is, Lakeland, Putnam Valley and Rye face a grueling week. And these teams will all play each other during the week.

Where do I start? Let’s begin with Monday.

On Monday, Putnam Valley travels to Briarcliff. This is the first meeting of the teams since Putnam Valley eliminated Briarcliff in last year’s sectionals. Regarding the Clarkstown School District, Clarkstown North will travel to Clarkstown South. The great aspect of this rivalry is that South coach Jordan Turner teaches at North.

Tuesday: If your daughter’s team does not have a game, may I suggest traveling to Putnam Valley as the Tigers host defending Class A state champion Lakeland at 4:30 p.m. Both teams are undefeated and feature some of Section 1’s finest individual players. Lakeland boasts Cassie O’Mara, Chelsea Robinson, Caitlin Collins and Tara McGovern, while Putnam Valley answers with Brittany Kinsley, Ashley Morgan, Erica Fisher and Katie Mazin.

Wednesday: The Rockland County teams take center stage with new power North Rockland heading to Clarkstown North and Clarkstown South going to Suffern for a 5 p.m. game at Suffern Middle School.

Thursday: Once again, and I don’t mean to repeat myself, but should you have an off day, make the trip to Putnam Valley. This time, Putnam Valley will match up with Rye at 4:30 p.m. This is the first meeting between the teams since Rye beat Putnam Valley is last year’s Section 1 Class B title game. The teams have played in the Class B final every year since 2003 with Rye winning three times. Keep an eye on Rye’s super sophomore tandem of Olivia Nabhan and Torie Stearns, as well as senior Alyssa Coughlin, who leads Rye in scoring.

Friday: If facing Putnam Valley was not tough enough, Rye will turn around and host coach Barb Deppe and John Jay-East Fishkill at 7:30 p.m. Jay is annually Dutchess County’s finest team and has won two state titles since 1998 under Deppe. Rye will keep an eye on Jay’s big scorer, Anna Ausanio.

Saturday: How did Rye coach Kevin Kelly survive the first day of practice? After his girls saw they had Putnam Valley and John Jay-East Fishkill on consecutive days, then they saw were playing at Lakeland (7:15 p.m.) to make three straight high-caliber games. Kelly is lucky his girls didn’t tie him to the back of the net, without the goalie equipment, and take shots at him. Yes, you are reading this correctly. Rye will play at Lakeland in a Saturday night game. I think this could very well be a standing-room crowd. Since 2000, Rye has won three state titles and Lakeland two. However, Rye has never beaten Lakeland.

If you’re looking for predictions, forget it. I will leave that up to the blog readers. Check in each day for I will have a writeup on each game.

Man, I can’t wait for the week to begin!

One day after playing to a 0-0 score with John Jay (Cross River), Brewster continued its fine start with a 2-1 victory over previously undefeated Somers, now 7-1 on the season.

Brewster, now 4-0-2 on the season, trailed 1-0 at halftime on a Lizzy Russo goal. (Russo is having an outstanding season for the Tuskers.) Brewster rallied for two second-half scores by Gabby Fallon and Danielle Yarusso.

These two teams will meet again at Brewster on Oct. 15. Brewster will also have a tough game when it travels to Carmel on Oct. 18 where it will face former Brewster great and current Carmel coach Colette (Gasparini) Brenneman.

There was a scary moment in the game. A fan let me know that Somers’ goalie accidentally cleared a shot into Brewster’s Caitlin Conn, which required Conn to receive seven stitches. Ironically, Heyde and Conn have been teammates on the 2006 and ‘07 Hudson Valley scholastic women’s field hockey gold-medal teams at the Empire State Games.

Here’s hoping Caitlin Conn is okay.

And while we’re on Brewster, a huge shout-out to Brewster senior soccer player Jessi-Ann Bettcher. Last May, Jessi-Ann Bettcher underwent a life-saving heart-transplant surgery. Not only did Bettcher return to school for her senior year, she returned for her 5th varsity season. And on Tuesday, in her second game back, Bettcher scored her first goal of the season in a victory over Peekskill.

Congratulations to a courageous and talented young lady!

The Pleasantville-Bronxville and Brewster-John Jay games were the marquis matchups as Pleasantville and Brewster entered undefeated and Bronxville and John Jay were unbeaten.

In their first meeting since the 2006 Section 1 Class C title game (won by Bronxville), unbeaten Bronxville dealt Pleasantville a 3-0 setback. Junior center forward Jessica Murrer scored twice and right wing Brook Gogel added a goal and an assist.

In the Brewster-John Jay game, defense took center stage in a 0-0 draw.

Plesantville entered the game with a 4-0 mark and had outscored its opposition, 15-0, led by Bridget Munier’s seven goals. Munier, along with Kara Falconi and Jacki Vosburg, is one of the quickest forward lines in Section 1. However, Bronxville’s “new” defense of Kathryn Whitney, Taylor Dunn, Maggie Goff and lone returning starter Bizzie Howitt, was equal to the challenge. Howitt had the assignment of shadowing Munier.

Murrer, who was Bronxville’s starting center mid until two games ago, opened the scoring at the 10:55 mark. Rachel Kim initiated the play with a free hit down the right wing. Brooke Gogel chased it down, controlled it and threw a shot on goal that Pleasantville goalie Adrianna Iannotti halted. Murrer picked up the rebound and deposited it in the net. Murrer later added her second goal of the game with 54 seconds remaining in the first half.

Even though Pleasantville allowed a season-high three goals, center back Katie Verlizzo and sweeper Amanda DeBlasio played fine games.

This will not be the only meeting between these teams. Veteran Pleasantville coach Rosemary Sotherden will probably begin implementing adjustments for Bronxville next time the teams meet, which should be in the Section 1 Class C final at Lakeland.

When I returned to the office following the Pleasantville-Bronxville game, I went right to the field hockey file and saw the scoreless game between Brewster (3-0-1) and John Jay (4-0-3). John Jay goalie Parrish Wright was credited with 13 saves.

Brewster will close out a challenging two-day stretch with undefeated Somers on Thursday. Lizzy Russo and Amanda Heyde and their Somers’ teammates are among the surprises of the season.

A side note on the Pleasantville-Bronxville game. I had a chance to talk to Rick Esteves, father of Pleasantville left back Jess Esteves and former three-time Section 1 Division II wrestling champion Michael Esteves. Michael is a freshman at Cortlandt and is a member of the wrestling team. Michael Esteves finished his career as Pleasantville’s career wins leader and finished fourth in the 2006 New York State Division II Championships at the Nassau Coliseum.

It has been a hectic week between field hockey and all of the other fall sports, capped off by a maddening Thursday with the majority of the football games being played so I’ve been a little behind with my posts.

So let me catch up and fill everyone in on some of the week’s highlights:

Monday: North Rockland defeated Suffern, 2-1 on a Chrissy Gutenberger second-half goal. … Brewster opened its season with an 8-0 victory over Harrison as Gabby Fallon registered a hat trick. … First-year Nyack coach Cheryl Eglin, who replaced veteran coach and great guy Al Pesner, earned her first varsity win in a 3-0 verdict over Hen Hud.

Tuesday: Bronxville needed a late second-half goal by Rachel Kim to earn a 2-2 draw with Pawling. Pawling always plays Bronxville tough and reunites neighbors June Lagan (Pawling coach) and Bronxville’s Courtnie (Smith) Egan. Lagan got Smith started with field hockey when Smith was a young girl. … North Salem’s Liz Holt scored her first varsity goal in a 3-1 win over Rye Neck.

Wednesday: I missed the day’s action because it was a big day in the Pinciaro household. My daughter, Elena, hit a milestone birthday, turning 10. Double digits is a big age, as I’m sure all field hockey dads will attest to with their daughters. I remember when Elena was born, and now she is 10. Where did the time go. Field hockey dads, you can understand.

In their annual rivalry, Carmel takes the first game in the season set with Mahopac, 2-0, as Anna Jarzebiak and Mariel Persichilli score. Carmel coach Colette Brenneman was happy that I was not covering this game because she considers me a jinx (as does North Salem coach Jen Frohman). … New Valhalla coach Tara Lahm earns her first varsity win as Kayla Haas scores in a 1-0 game with Rye Neck … Panas won for the third time in four games with an 8-0 win over Hen Hud as Ali Tracy scored twice and Casey McGovern added three assists. … Virginia-bound Chelsea Robinson scores two goals as Lakeland blanks Yorktown, 3-0, running its record to 5-0.

Thursday: Bronxville defeats North Salem, 5-0, as five different players score, led by Jessica Murrer’s goal and two assists. … Pleasantville’s Bridget Munier follows up a hat trick with two more goals in a 5-0 win over Croton. … Ellen Williams and Cathleen Smith pop in two goals apiece as Mamaroneck handles Mahopac, 6-0. … Somers remains undefeated (5-0) with a 5-0 win over Hen Hud as Lizzy Russo records a hat trick. … John Jay defeats Fox Lane, 3-0, improving to 3-0-1 on the season. … Clarkstown South’s Devon Trenkle turns in her second consecutive shutout in a 2-0 win over Ursuline. … Harrison gets its first win of the season – 3-1 over White Plains – as Johnna Valentzas scores twice.

Next week, the game of the week is Pleasantville at Bronxville on Wednesday (4:15 p.m.) It is the first meeting between the two teams since Bronxville bested Pleasantville, 1-0 in the 2006 Section 1 Class C title game.

I guess my friend The Voice was right. He yelled at me in a post during wrestling season and then softball season that I should smile. During wrestling season the scowl works because wrestlers don’t smile. During softball season, the people who posted were not looking at my blog photo. Why do you think my softball colleague, Erin Bruehl, always had more comments on her posts?

So, with this thought in mind, I must be scaring away perspective blog readers and individuals who would like to post a comment. I promise the blog readers that come Monday I will have a new and improved photo up on this blog. If not, I will ask for a caricature with a full head of hair.

In the first meeting of the two teams since the Sound Shore Summer League title game (won by Suffern), Chrissy Gutenberger’s goal with 10 minutes remaining in the game was the difference.

Despite the win, North Rockland coach Jenn Cohen was not happy with her team, and discussed this with her girls afterward.

In the first half Suffern did a great job of intercepting or blocking Jen LaSpina’s howitzer drives. Suffern center midfielder Amanda Lambert handled the majority of these and she also shadowed the ultra-quick Guntenberger all over the field.

North Rockland produced four penalty corners and Suffern three heading into the final minutes of the first half. Suffern would take a 1-0 lead on a Cara ‘Little Eic’ Eichenberger goal. Lambert’s free hit was collected by Grace Altobrando, who, in turn, put the ball into the middle and Eichenberger deflected it home with 2:05 on the clock. North Rockland answered right back, 63 seconds later on its fifth penalty corner of the half.

Morgan McGowan initiated the corner, sending a pass to LaSpina at the top of the circle. LaSpina stopped it and ripped a high drive into the upper left-hand corner of the net.

Suffern opened the second half with a surge, carrying the play for the firts 10 minutes. Suffern’s best scoring chance came when Jenny Califano ripped a point-blank shot off the outside of the post. One minute later, back Rebecca Goold, who was celebrating her birthday with a fine game, stopped an Eichenberger rush, intercepting a pass to the right wing and clearing.

Gutenberger’s winner came on a LaSpina free hit from about 25 yards out. LaSpina sent a hit into a congested circle and somehow, Gutenberger got her stick on it to deflect it in.

In other action Monday:

Kristen Bell scored as Clarkstown South blanked White Plains, 1-0. … New Nyack coach Cheryl Eglin was presented her first win as Nyack defeated Our Lady of Lourdes, 3-0 behind a goal and an assist each by Ashley Paletta and Allison Ceresnak. … Even though North Salem dropped a 1-0 verdict to Pawling, former Mahopac great and Pawling coach June Lagan credited North Salem goalie Jesse Kilcullen with playing an excellent game. … Brewster received a Gabby Fallon hat trick and Rachel Thomas added a goal and two assists in an 8-0 win over Harrison. … John Jay first-year coach Jen Marschner received her initial win as Jay bested Horace Greeley, 3-1, behind two Alexia Tsagaris goals. Tsagaris has scored three of Jay’s first four goals. … Carmel senior Anna Jarzebiak had a career-high four goals in the Rams’ 5-1 victory over Clarkstown North.

Each Wednesday I will be discussing Section 1 field hockey with Regional News Network (RNN) sports anchor Ben Sosenko on the 6:30 p.m. newscast.

Now, if you can deal with my scary-looking blog head shot (which I plan on having redone. This time with a smile.) then tune in each Wednesday. Should the glare off the top of my gleaming dome become too bright, just turn away from the TV and listen.

Although, Ben and his crew told me the brightness wasn’t that bad. (There is no truth to the rumor that all of the studio lights were turned off and a candle was brought into the studio to dim the glare while they were filming the field hockey segment.)

It was brought to my attention recently that in my field hockey league glance I listed the top teams but did not rank them in order. So, with this in mind, here is my view of the top 3 teams in each class. I’m sure I will anger more than a few players, coaches and parents with this, but that’s what makes prognosticating fun. Ask the readers on my Takedowns (wrestling) blog and the softball blog, Around the Bases.

In fact, I think the Tappan Zee softball parents are still angry with me. During the 2007 season twice I made predictions based on a coin flip (because the game was too close to call) and lost both. The coin landed in the TZ opponent’s favor and both times I had egg on my face.

Enough of my rambling (My wife says I do this alot. It must be my advanced age). Here we go:

Class A
1. Lakeland – The defending state Class A champions are still LOADED! Only the Hornets can graduate a phenomenal senior class, led by the ALL-WORLD Melissa Gonzalez and outstanding Kara Connolly, and still be feared. When you have a senior quintet of Cassie O’Mara, Caitlin Collins, Chelsea Robinson, Tara McGovern and Leah DiSisto, it is understandble.

2. Mamaroneck – The 2004 state Class A champion and 2005 state finalist opened its season with a 0-0 game with John Jay-East Fishkill. The Tigers will sorely miss Harvard freshman K.J. Warren, one of Mamaroneck’s finest in program history. Mamaroneck returns firepower in forwards Cathleen Smith and Charlotte Gardiner, along with Anna Reddicliffe and back Ellen Williams. Teams will be hard-pressed to score with a staunch defense and an equally strong goalie in Racquel Lividini.

3. John Jay-East Fishkill – Oh am I going to catch grief on this, but all coach Barbara Deppe is produce outstanding teams. The Patriots have three impact players in Anna Ausanio, Ally Brown and goalie Megan Douglas.

Class B

1. Rye – All Kevin Kelly has returning is the majority of a sectional-winning team. Yes, the outstanding Claire Byrne, a four-year starter and current Dartmouth freshman and starter, graduated, however, the Garnets talent is limitless. Seniors Morgan McCauley and Ai Nishino are excellent finishers, Colleen Carey is an outstanding two-way center midfielder and back Courtney Burke is one of the finest and most underrated players in Section 1. Oh, and let’s not forget about senior goalie Ashley Santoro and the sophomore forward duo of Olivia Nabhan and Tori Stearns.

2. Putnam Valley – The Tigers graduated the only goalie they ever knew in the program’s five-year history in Boston U. freshman Kim Kastuk. Put Valley was fortunate though, to get Hen Hud transfer Jackie Gallagher to step in. In senior Brittany Kinsley, Put Valley has one of the finest, ifnot the best, center back in Section 1. Kinsley’s defense is suffocating. Ashley Morgan and Erika Fisher are two fine young players who are primed to have break-out season. Both, along with Kinsley, played on the gold-medal-winning Hudson Valley scholastic women’s team at the 2007 Empire State Games.

3. Briarcliff – Yes, I know that Somers is off to a 3-0 start, but if you asked me during preseason I would have had Kelly Adams’ group ranked third. Sure, losing five-year goalie Katie Lynch and five-year starter Ali Waugh hurts, but don’t be fooled. Briarcliff has a high-scoring forward in Alexa Guarino, two fine midfielders in seniors Caroline Weber and Megan Stoffer, and a pair of talented sophomores in Lauren Giacovis and Sara Resnick. Oh, and Adams has a freshman goalie named Vicky Trentini who is ready after working with Adams in “Kelly’s Goalie World.”

Class C

1. Bronxville – The defending Class C titlist has one of the quickest, if not the quickest forward line in Section 1 with speed demons Caroline Poorman, Brooke Gogel and Rachel Kim. Can they fly. Jessica Murrer is an outstanding two-way center midfielder who is ready to shine. While Bronxville’s defense was hard hit by graduation, it has one of the finest young backs in Section 1 in Bizzie Howitt. Murrer said it’s not much fun going up against Howitt in practice.

2. Pleasantville – A sectional finalist last season, all veteran coach Rosemary Sotherden does every year is produce a excellent, well-schooled team that will challenge for a sectional title. Pleasantville, a 2002 state finalist led by Brittany Paulus and Rachel Carr-Harris, has a fine senior class. This group is highlighted by forwards Bridget Munier, Michelle Seisdedos and Jacki Vosburg, midfielders Kara Falconi and Tierney Latella and goalie Adrianna Iannotti.

3. North Salem – First, a congratulations to coach Jen Butch, who got married over the summer and is now Jen Frohman. (It will take some getting used to.) And, Butch welcomed back one of her former players, former standout and Siena player, Carly DeMartis, who is the new JV coach. Despite North Salem’s move to fall soccer with the rest of Section 1 a couple of years back, Butch, uh, excuse me, Frohman still has her team among the best in Section 1. This season, senior forward Maria DeRobertis and senior goalie Jesse Kilcullen lead the Tigers, who are always sound defensively.

I’m checking out now and will leave this up to the readers as to whether you agree or disagree. Don’t be bashful. Let me know if I’m so far out in left field with this post that I am sitting in the last row of seats in the upper deck (better known as nose-bleed seats).

My friend, The Voice, gave me grief for not covering this game. And I missed a great early-season game. But, John Jay-East Fishkill and Lakeland always play great games. Lakeland (2003, ‘06) and John Jay-EF (1998, 2002) have combined for four state championships since 1998.

I spoke to Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen following the game. John Jay took a 1-0 lead into halftime before the Hornets came out buzzing in the second half.

Chelsea Robinson evened the score at 1-1 on a feed from Gillian Murdock 2:40 into the second half. Lakeland controlled the play the majority of the second half and it was the youngsters who provided the decisive play.

Sophomore Megan Bozek sent a pass from the left wing to the far post and classmate Jillian Caffrey (who played varsity last season) got her stick on the ball and beat John Jay goalie, Megan Douglas, with 3:35 remaining in the game.

Robinson (Who graces the cover of the September issue of Lacrosse Magazine) explained to me in a phone interview following the game that she and her teammates were flat in the first half. They wanted to dig themselves out of the hole they made. But, the biggest motivation came from senior Tara McGovern, Lakeland’s quiet leader. Robinson noted that McGovern said to her at halftime ‘We’re not going to lose this game.’

Not only did it get Robinson’s juices flowing, it pumped up the entire team. Lakeland outshot John Jay, 9-1 in the second half and 14-3 for the game.

I know it’s still early, but Sarsen had four sophomores and a freshman playing important minutes this season. I recall a 2003 Lakeland team which had four freshmen play quality minutes. Their names were Melissa Gonzalez, Kara Connolly, Amy Voelkel and Rebecca DiSisto. All this quartet did was win two state titles.

I’m sure Lakeland and John Jay will meet again, in either the sectional semis or finals.

To the Voice, see ya soon and congrats on the impending birth of your second child, the soon-to-be little voice.

Monday commences the first full week of field hockey. Check that, no games Thursday and Friday in observance of Rosh Hashanah.

Monday features some good games as Rye opens defense of its Section 1 Class B crown by hosting Kelly Adams and her Briarcliff girls. Rye is led by seniors Colleen Carey, Morgan McCauley, Ai Nishino and junior Courtney Burke. Briarcliff lost a large, talented class to graduation (including center mid Ali, now playing at Colgate, and goalie Katie Lynch, now playing at Northwestern), however, forward Alexa Guarino returns to fuel the offense.

Pelham, fresh off a 12-win season and spearheaded by Mary Drucker and Emily Whitaker, travels to Putnam Valley. The Tigers have a new coach – Toni Ann Cortina – and new goalie, Hen Hud transfer Jackie Gallagher. Gallagher replaces Boston U. freshman Kim Kastuk, New York State’s career shut-out leader. And, by the way, Kastuk recently earned the America East Rookie-of-the-Week award.

North Rockland makes the trip to Mahopac on Monday for a matchup with coach Donna DiMaggio’s girls. Both teams won their respective openers. Mahopac must concern itself with North Rockland’s Chrissy Gutenberger, while Kathleen Vitulli and her defensive teammates face Stephanie Coffman, who has scored three goals in Mahopac’s first two games.

Tuesday: John Jay-East Fishkill at Lakeland (6:45 p.m.) – Under the lights at Lakeland with Section 1’s best P.A. announcer, Lakeland HS Social Studies teacher Tom Peters, belting out his melodic tones. These two teams have four state championships (two each) since 1998 and each season stage excellent games. I expect this to be another in what has become a nice rivalry.

Saturday: Yorktown at John Jay-Cross River – Both teams are coming off of fine seasons which included sectional berths.