Second-half goals by Torie Stearns and Emma Tucci gave Rye a 2-0 victory in the season-opener for both teams.More to come on this after I file my game story. 

The 2008 field hockey season officially commences this week and I, for one, am pumped.

Let’s take a look at some of the opening-week games:

Wednesday, Sept. 3: Holy Child and Rye Country Day School open their respective seasons. The teams last played in the New York State Independent Schools title game last November at Fieldston and RCS walked away with the title. Both teams were hard-hit by graduation, but both return good nucleuses.

Thursday, Sept. 4: Rockland County will be buzzing as three of Section 1’s finest make the trip over the Tappan Zee. Mamaroneck, led by Cathleen Smith, Ellen Williams, Charlotte Gardiner and Anna Reddicliffe face North Rockland, featuring senior Morgan McGowan. Mahopac will take on Clarkstown South and Carmel will be up Route 304, facing Clarkstown North. Ursuline will host Arlington.

Friday. Sept. 5: I wish I could clone myself on a day like today. Check that, I don’t think field hockey fans would want two of me running around covering games. That is scary. Anyway, if you are in the southern Westchester area, make the trip to Bronxville as reigning state Class B champ Rye, and new coach Emily Fitzgerald, face 2007 Class C sectional finalist Bronxville at 4:45. You can’t ask for a better season-opener. Rye has three of Section 1’s top players in back Courtney Burke and the speedy forward tandem of Torie Stearns and Olivia Nabhan. This trio was instrumental in Hudson Valley scholastic women’s field hockey continue its dominance with a fourth consecutive gold medal. Rye also possesses two excellent backs in Mimi McCormick and Julianna Kennedy. Bronxville counters with lightning-quick forwards Jessica Murrer and Brooke Gogel, steady, consistent midfielders Caroline Harris and Rachel Kim, back Bizzie Howitt and veteran goalie Anne Piper. … At 7 p.m., coach Barb Deppe takes her John Jay-East Fishkill team to Lakeland where the Hornets begin without the outstanding Class of 2008 — Caitlin Collins, Chelsea Robinson, Cassie O’Mara, Tara McGovern and Leah DiSisto. Even though this fantastic fivesome moved on, Lakeland boasts midfielder Megan Bozek and back Jillian Caffery starters and major players on the 2008 gold-medal winning Hudson Valley team. Senior Liz Gonzalez, who shared keeper duties with DiSisto last year, is the starter, and Lakeland has a pair of promising freshmen forwards in Emma Bozek and Shannon Scavelli. Oh how I would love to be at this game. When JJEF and Lakeland meet, it is always an excellent game. … Somers will be hosting its annual tournament. The Tuskers will miss the talent of three-year starting goalie Amanda Heyde and high-scoring forward Lizzy Russo., who both graduated. … Rockland County features Nyack playing at Suffern. The Mounties have the County’s finest forward tandem in seniors Cara Eichenberger and Jenny Califano.