Lady Bruins ready for a run

Baldwin had its fast start in field hockey interrupted by consecutive Conference II losses to New Hyde Park, 3-1, last Saturday, and its opponent in last season's Nassau Class A championship game, Massapequa (4-0 on Sept. 29). But even in defeat, the Lady Bruins (2-2-1 overall), showed signs of staying on track, specifically in the battle with the Lady Gladiators.

The offense, currently paced by senior forward Nicole Pennycooke, who's scored a team-high four goals, and senior midfielder Courtney Berg, undoubtedly the top playmaker, received a big boost against New Hyde Park with the return of senior forward Moria York, last season's leading scorer. "The outlook is pretty good," fifth-year coach Mike Hoover said of the long-range forecast in 2010. "We just hit a couple of speed bumps this week. We had a really good game [against New Hyde Park]. It was 1-0 at halftime and we controlled the ball well."

The Lady Gladiators finished off a pair of breakaway goals by putting in rebounds to pull away in the second half.

"It was just one of those games where things didn't go our way," Hoover said.

Pennycooke scored Baldwin's only goal on an assist from Berg.

With York just jumping back into the lineup, and the continued development of freshman Caroline Roman and play of junior Mary Anne McNally, it's no surprise that Hoover sees the best games on the horizon. "We continually have opportunities to score and you can just see it coming," he said. "I see us turning the page in a week or two."

Berg is the key to the midfield on both ends, because her non-stop motor and tenacity often put her in the middle of offensive and defensive plays. Seniors Valerie Giovanelli, Molly McAdams and Katie Green and sophomore Amanda Clemens surround Berg in an aggressive, up-tempo attack.

It didn't take long for Carly Mertens, a first-year field hockey player, to adjust to both the game and her position in goal.  The sophomore stopped 15 shots in a 0-0 tie with Clarke on Sept. 24. "She has good instincts, is very athletic and a good leader," Hoover said. "She's only played four weeks of field hockey. [Clarke] really had us on the ropes and she bailed us out."

Junior Gianna Navarro is now in her second year as a starter on defense, while junior Amhadi Tracey also offers support. Sophomore Casey Barberio has taken on a sweeper-like role on the backline, often positioning herself in front of the cage. Barberio, who also has experience as a forward, has already shown that her play on defense has added benefits for the team. Against New Hyde Park, she picked up a loose ball and brought it 50 yards upfield in transition, firing off a pass into the circle.

Baldwin hosts Great Neck South Saturday at 4:30 p.m., followed by a visit from Oyster Bay on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).