SOMERS, N.Y. - On Monday, July 27, the Somers seventh-grade field hockey team matched up against John Jay in the final game of the summer season. At Lakeland High School, the Wolves had a glaring omission.
“Their goalie was really scary,” joked Camryn Carbonaro about the game's long-empty net.
Even without a goalkeeper, both teams competed hard in the Tuskers' 7-2 victory, and nothing went to waste on the cool summer night.
“It’s fun playing with your friends, getting better and maybe trying some skills you wouldn’t try in a normal game,” said Olivia Girolamo.
John Jay controlled the early pressure, putting several shots on goal. No problem. Reagan Dooley came up with a couple of saves, and the ensuing transition gave Ryan Brown her opportunity. Brown stole the ball at midfield, pushed it ahead, and finished the play.
“It was basically just a pass back, I got open and tipped it in,” said the midfielder.
Undeterred, John Jay continued to attack, but the Somers defense kept getting sticks and pads in the way. Katherine Dugmore was among the early standouts on defense.
“It’s really about backing each other up and being there when we need it,” said the defender.
Dooley wasn't afraid to get involved either. A pair of kick saves kept John Jay at bay, and her newfound confidence didn't happen by accident.
“This summer I learned to be more aggressive,” said Dooley.
Even so, John Jay tied the score soon afterward, but the Tuskers responded quickly. Another steal pushed the ball forward, and sustained pressure set up Sabrina Guaragna for the first of her three goals.
“We all work together, we’re all very close and we like to communicate,” she said.
The attacker wasn't finished. Her stick work through midfield helped create a penalty corner, and after receiving the insert, she fired home to make it 3-1.
Dooley preserved the lead with two more kick saves, and Somers carried a 3-1 advantage into the second half. Dugmore stopped John Jay's opening rush, moved the ball ahead to Guaragna, and Brown finished the play to extend the lead to 4-1.
John Jay answered with another strong offensive push, peppering the circle with multiple shots on goal. Unfortunately for the Wolves, there was no getting through the Somers defense.
“We held our own, tried to stop as many as we could and hit the ball to the outside,” said Girolamo.
Mission accomplished. Guaragna completed her hat trick to put the game largely out of reach, and the victory had Carbonaro optimistic about the future.
“We’re all going to get better over time, add more skills, and the more we practice, the better we will get,” she concluded.
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