Clarke claims conference title

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Brittany Dougher wasn’t sure how her first season as the Clarke’s field hockey coach would turn out after she took over for Leslie Murray following a 5-10 season in 2016. Nor was she certain how the girls would respond to a new philosophy that she brought with her from Cold Spring Harbor.

It could not have gone any better.

The move to Nassau Conference 3 has worked wonders for the Lady Rams as they steamrolled to a 10-1 overall record (10-0 in conference games) while outscoring their opponents 32-9. They also recorded seven shutouts, including five straight from Sept. 15-Oct. 3.

Dougher credited Murray for recognizing the team’s ability and making the move. “It was a smart choice on her part,” Dougher said. “Her intuition was correct.”

The 10 wins were three better than second-place Great Neck South and good enough for a first-round matchup against Manhasset on Oct. 24. Clarke ended its campaign on an eight-game winning streak after its lone blemish of the season, 6-2 against non-conference Massapequa on Sept. 14.

“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to be walking into because I knew they had graduated some players last year and, obviously, with the coaching change, you never know how it’s going to go,” she said. “But it’s definitely going well. It’s a nice group of girls.”

The team is built around strong defense and goaltending. Dougher described the defensive corps of sophomores Katie Ventura and Gabby Sferrazza and senior tri-captain Natalia Reyes and junior netminder Madison Normile as “phenomenal” and the foursome have done a solid job shutting down the opposition all season.

“Natalia Reyes is a huge piece of our puzzle of why we’re successful,” Dougher said. “Gabby Sferrazza holds down the center and a newbie to the varsity team, Katie Ventura, on the left side, is someone who picks up the stick and just gets it.”

Normile, who racked up 59 saves this season, is recognized as the team’s leader on and off the field.

“Ability-wise, she is great,” Dougher said. “She’s part of our success as well.”

Up front, sophomore and tri-captain Graceann Murphy paced the team with 13 goals and 20 points, including a six-goal effort in a 7-0 whitewash for Great Neck North on Sept. 28, and Annie Roller pitched in six goals as a freshman. Senior tri-captain Bryanna Resende, Alyssa Kozak and Joanna Peters chipped in three goals apiece.

Dougher is familiar with Manhasset and faced the Indians regularly with Cold Spring Harbor with the two being Conference 1 foes. But because Clarke does not have a turf facility, the game will be played at Manhasset despite that team’s 2-7 record.

No matter the result, the program has a bright future with just three graduating seniors and core players such as Murphy, Normile, Roller, Sferrazza and Ventura still in place.

“We have great depth, a lot of good ability and a lot that’s coming in too that are young and I can work on grooming into hockey shape,” Dougher said. “It’s exciting.”