Clarke continues winning streak

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The return of only three starters hasn’t kept Clarke’s field hockey team from picking up where it left off last season when it earned 11 victories and reached the semifinal round of the Nassau Class B playoffs.

The Lady Rams have won seven straight out of the gate and completed a season sweep of Massapequa on Sept. 30 with a 3-0 home triumph. All of the scoring came in the second half. Senior Brianna Ventola and juniors Bailey McNamara and Jennifer Sawicki provided the offensive support for freshman goalie Madison Normile, who made six saves while posting her fourth shutout.

“I didn’t expect this kind of success to be honest,” Clarke coach Leslie Murray said. “I knew we had quality athletes coming back, but when you graduate most of the lineup and have a young goalie it’s hard to be sure how everything is going to come together.”

A 2-1 win at Masspequa in the opener set the tone, Murray said. McNamara opened the scoring in the first half and Clarke held a 1-0 lead until the Lady Chiefs tied it with eight minutes remaining in regulation. However, junior Madeline Seims scored off a penalty corner to win it for the Lady Rams 3:12 into overtime.

“Madeline was one of our top players off the bench last year,” Murray said of Seims, who has seven goals and one assist for a team-leading eight points in seven games. “She’s scrappy and has a strong shot,” she added. “She can play forward or midfield and has great anticipation skills.”

Seims also had a hand in what Murray called the biggest win of 2015 so far, a 2-1 shootout victory over Cold Spring Harbor on Sept. 25. McNamara and Gianna Missano traded goals in regulation, and after a scoreless overtime Clarke dominated all areas of the shootout. McNamara, Seims and Ventola converted their shots and Normile (eight regulation stops) denied each of the three opponents she faced. “It felt like a playoff atmosphere,” Murray said. “We usually go to Cold Spring and play on their turf and struggle. It was nice to play them on our field.”

The Lady Rams have allowed just three goals while breaking in a new goalie and starting defense. The defense, led by junior sweeper Victoria Sferrazza, has been tough to crack. Junior Sabrina Caputo moved to the back from a forward position, and seniors Megan Fitzpatrick and Allison Astudillo have been steady and create turnovers.

Normile played at the middle school level a year ago but has made a smooth adjustment to varsity. “Madison is very aggressive and looks relaxed and confident in the goal,” Murray explained.

In the midfield, McNamara, Ventola, senior Amanda Reyes and junior Michelle Barahona are workhorses. McNamara is a year-round field hockey player, Murray said, and a vocal leader who sometimes moves to forward to provide an offensive spark.

A boost could be necessary on Thursday when Clarke travels to face powerhouse Garden City. “It’s going to be a very interesting fast-paced game on turf,” Murray said.