Youth served for Lady Bruins

After a roller coaster regular season, Baldwin was last year’s Nassau Class AA girls’ soccer Cinderella team, upsetting the No. 2 and 3 playoff seeds on the way to a runner-up finish to Massapequa.

The Lady Bruins, who eliminated Valley Stream Central, Farmingdale and East Meadow in the tournament following a 6-5-1 fourth-place showing in Conference AA-II, bring back only seven of 20 players but expect to challenge for a playoff spot.

“We’re an unproven team for the most part,” coach Darius Burton said. “We’re very young, but we’re athletic and tough. The girls work hard and we’re looking to get back to the playoffs.”

Perhaps the biggest change is in goal, where Baldwin doesn’t have Stephanie Vega for the first time since 2004. Replacing the four-year starter and All-Class selection last fall is junior Gina Passaretti, who barely played a year ago due to injury. Passaretti’s first varsity start came Sept. 14 and she was solid in a 5-1 non-league victory over Valley Stream Central. “Gina has played the position her whole life,” Burton said. “She knows the ins and outs.” Backing up Passaretti is sophomore Amber Harrison.

Senior captains Charity Holt and Sami Caesar anchor the defense from the sweeper and stopper spots, respectively. Senior Shakoya Smith and junior Liz Eberhart are stepping into bigger roles as the starting fullbacks and will be asked to mark the opposition’s top scoring threats.

Burton had to revamp the midfield, and so far so good as two of Baldwin’s five goals in the opener came from the group. Junior captain N’Dea Johnson drops back from forward but can take advantage of the open field when opportunities arise. She notched a goal against Valley Stream Central, as did freshman Jessica Mauradian. Sophomores Ashley Sobel (two) and Allie Rodgers combined for three assists in the game. The speed of senior Regine Lazard will always come in handy.

Up front, the competition will have its hands full with senior captain Olivia Antonopoulos, one of Nassau’s leading goal scorers in 2008. She scored twice in the opener, and her nonstop motor is sure to lead to many more. “We need Olivia to do what she does best, and that’s score goals,” Burton said. “Most of her goals are a result of hard work and determination.” Senior Stephanie Lescouflair and junior Melissa Previl, who scored in the opener, can provide an offensive spark as well.

The Lady Bruins are back in action Saturday when they host Syosset in a conference game at 6 p.m.

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