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).