Fresh start for Lawrence

With a much more manageable schedule and an influx of spirited freshmen, things are looking up for Lawrence’s girls soccer program following a difficult 2010 campaign.

The Lady Golden Tornadoes, who suffered nine defeats and settled for two ties against Conference A-II rivals in Pete Hurley’s first year as coach, will try to make the most of their speed and conditioning this season against mostly new competition.

“This year we’re playing teams more on our level,” Hurley said. “We don’t have much size, but we have speed and a little more depth and we’re building up the conditioning.”

Gone from Lawrence’s schedule is perennial power South Side, as well as Bethpage and Hewlett, replaced by Glen Cove, Roosevelt and Great Neck North in a revamped Conference A-IV. Sewanhaka and Malverne/East Rockaway, two teams the Lady Golden Tornadoes went toe-to-toe with last fall, remain conference rivals.

Of his long-anticipated first coaching win, Hurley said: “I think it’ll come soon.”

Lawrence returns only two senior starters, Ali Tucker and J.T. Colon, and will boast one of the youngest teams in Nassau County.  

Tucker is switching to forward after spending the majority of last season at center-midfield and scoring four goals to rank among the team leaders. “Ali’s our captain and someone who does anything asked of her,” Hurley said. “We need her to score so we’re putting her up front.” 

Colon, the co-captain, has been a part of the program for four years and stepping into a leadership role as well. She’ll lead the defense along with sophomore Joseline Jimenez and freshman Amaiya Wilkes.

Wilkes, one of 12 ninth graders on the roster, is one of a handful playing club soccer and impressed Hurley during tryouts. “She looks great in practice,” he said. “She knows the game and has all the skills.”

The coach is expecting Jimezez, who appears quicker and better conditioned, to raise her level of play. She’ll also serve as the backup goalkeeper to Nicole Robinson, who started every game last season and made a remarkable 40 saves in a loss to South Side.

“Nicole’s our vocal leader,” Hurley said of Robinson. “She has a great attitude and plays through injuries. She punts the ball very well and we might get her out in the field once in a while.”

Offensively, the Lady Golden Tornadoes will have junior Stephanie Kendall and sophomore Georgina Hudja playing up front with Tucker. Sophomore Sasha Unger could see time at forward or help lead the midfield along with junior Katherine Olmedo.

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