As I was leaving Cicero-North Syracuse High School today it hit me, the scholastic field hockey season is over. In one respect, I can’t wait to leave Syracuse (especially when it snows or is bitterly cold) so I can return home to my family. On the other hand though, it also represents the season’s conclusion.

And what a great 2007 season it was in Section 1, thanks to the players and coaches. We witnessed some outstanding field hockey games this season, for example, Rye-Putnam Valley (three times), Lakeland-Rye, Lakeland-Putnam Valley, Mamaroneck-Lakeland, Suffern-North Rockland (twice), Putnam Valley-Somers (sectional semifinal), Brewster-Somers (twice), Pleasantville-Bronxville (Sectional final) and, of course, the Garden City-Rye state championship game won by the Garnets on Olivia Nabhan’s goal in the second sudden-death overtime. These are just a few of the games I can recall. There were many more I’m sure I missed.

This season also witnessed a few first-year coaches guiding their respective teams to sectionals—Lindsay Robinson at Edgemont and Cheryl Eglin at Nyack, who only had 12 players.

We witnessed the end of an era at Pleasantville as 31-year coach and an all-around outstanding person in Rosemary Sotherden retired after her team’s regional final. I said it before and I will say it again, thank you coach Sotherden for everything you did for Pleasantville field hockey, Section 1 field hockey and Hudson Valley field hockey.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the players, coaches and parents for your tremendous cooperation this season. From the players, who had to deal with lengthy interviews following a game or long day of school and practice, to the coaches for always helping me with numbers and speaking glowlingly of their players, to the parents, who also helped me out with numbers or tracked their daughters down and had them call me. Many times I had players, coaches and parents thank me, however, I had the easy job. All I had to do was write about this outstanding game and players. The players and coaches did all of the work.

To the players, coaches and parents, congratulations again on another memorable season. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy it.

And good luck to the Hudson Valley scholastic field hockey team at Festival this week.