Youthful Calhoun building pieces

Jordana Bello has been running across soccer fields in September like her shoes have caught fire. 

Calhoun’s striker, Bello, is just a sophomore, but she’s scorching. She notched two more goals on Sept. 29 to lift Calhoun to a 4-2, come-from-behind win over New Hyde Park. 

That gave Bello eight goals on the season. She’s one of four sophomores’ starters that has Calhoun looking ahead to a wondrous future with the current season showing promise.

“She’s a dominating player with her speed, skill and overall talent,’’ Calhoun’s first-year coach Jason Elias said. “She’s also one of the most fit and hardest workers. She’s pretty extraordinary.’’

After notching four goals apiece in its last two games, Calhoun had forged a 3-3-3 clip.

“We start just two seniors,’’ Elias said. “Without a doubt, it’s a rebuilding year. But we’re still hoping for success this year. We haven’t faced anybody who I think has outplayed us except maybe Bellmore JFK.’’

Ironically, that was Bellmore JFK’s lone win as the young Calhoun squad may have been caught in complacency.  

The Merrick-based school has much to live up to as the 2021 squad were co-division champions in Nassau A2.

After a six-year hiatus, Elias, the former longtime boys coach at Kennedy, is back on the sidelines inheriting a young but talented team. He’s made adjustments since his last stint, understanding the skill level is higher than six years ago with more sophistication in dribbling and passing.

Elias added a new assistant coach in Brianna Doran, who played four years at Hofstra. The 24-year-old has been a boost. “She’s got a good connection with the girls and adds another level of experience,’’ Doran said. 

  Last season’s squad notably lost its star goalie Holly DiPalo. But the replacement is softball standout junior Gianna Haniff. “She’s made a couple of big saves in big games,’’ Elias said. “It’s great she’s taking her athletic ability and helping us.’’

For all of Bello’s scoring strikes, the team’s glue is senior captain, Jill Conlon, who has made All-County two straight years as the defense’s anchor. She plays center defense and does it all.

“She’s our leader,’’ Elias said. “Every dead ball goes through her. She directs things from the back. She’s our vocal leader and our leader by example. We couldn’t do much without her.’’

But the next two seasons after this one looks superb due to the sophomore foursome, including Alex Aievoli, Isabella Tristaino and Isabela Rohr. 

Outside of Bello, Aievoli is the lone sophomore to play as a freshman on the varsity and owns as many skills as vowels in her name. She’s a midfielder who sees the field well and, as the coach says, “plays beyond her years.’’ 

 “Starting four sophomores is a pretty big deal,’’ Elias said. 

Other notables include junior center midfielder Makayla Condela, whose intensity on the ball is exemplary. Then there are seniors Mia Licari, a tri-captain who marks the best player on the opponent’s team.  

Senior winger Taryn Hilke is a key piece – her strength and size allowing her to win most 50-50 balls. If Bello gets a little more goal-scoring help, the future could be now. 

“It’s a matter of putting the ball in the big onion bag,’’ Elias said.