Just because the games have stopped, doesn’t mean the field hockey conversations should. The offseason can be a fun time for talking about the season that was and looking ahead to next year. I guess a logical place to start would be what happens to the best of the best between the 2011 and 2012 seasons? In my opinion, the four best teams in Section 1 this year were Lakeland, Mamaroneck, Bronxville and Rye. I didn’t get a chance to see every team play, but from what I saw and the way the season played out, I believe this is the cream of the crop. Lakeland and Mamaroneck dealt with some key losses to graduation heading into this season, but made it back to the state finals. They will once again get hit hard, especially Lakeland who loses maybe the top two players in the state in Emma Bozek and Shannon Scavelli. Rye wasn’t hit as hard coming into this season, but loses its core group of Emma Brinkman, Annie VanWagenen, Tori Virtue and G.G. FitzGerald. I’m not questioning the metal of these three teams for next year — they seem to always have talent — but what’s everyone’s opinion on what these teams could look like heading into the 2012 season? Can Lakeland four-peat?
That leaves Bronxville, who unlike the teams mentioned above will be returning a lot of key players including some who really stepped up this year in leading the Broncos to the state final four. Do the Broncos have the best shot at repeating as section champs next season?
Would love to hear what our readers think and if you have any intriguing storylines to discuss, please post.
7 Comments
bronxville loos good for next year but has one small problem and that is with their go lie situation. 3 year starter Katie knox is graduating and is leaving some big shoes to fill. the question will be if some one can fill them and keep bronxville alive for another state run.
Scarsdale should be very competitive next season. Last season their only losses were to Mamo, Bronxville and Carmel in the playoffs (in strokes and after a golden goal was taken away). They only graduated 2-3 regular starters and have a strong rising junior and senior class.
Good point. This will definitely be the biggest road block to them repeating as section champs.
Scarsdale would definitely be one of my top teams to be a new section champ next season. Putnam Valley and Ossining are two other teams that come to mind.
Please remember that there is great talent in Rockland County. Its seems all about Westchester. Isnt this a Rockland/Westchester paper?
I agree, but there are a lot of question marks with the Rockland teams. Nyack brings some key players back, but lost a couple of key players to graduation including their two leaders Shabinsky and DeVita. Suffern had a down year and although I believe Nanuet is an up and coming team, I don’t know if they have the talent to compete with some of the top Westchester teams.
Disagree with your opinion on best 4 teams Putnam Valley should have been in your top they have 4 losses 3 of which were to Lakeland and the other Mamaroneck. Mamaroneck could have gone either way.