Defense sets tone for Hewlett

With a senior-laden defense and a pair of quality goalkeepers, Hewlett girls’ soccer coach Gil Kreiss is expecting the back row to be the team’s biggest area of strength.

“We played well late last season, but we just didn’t score enough,” said Kreiss, who guided the Lady Bulldogs to a 3-4-5 record in Conference A-III and a spot in the Nassau Class A playoffs. “We’ve got some question marks and some injuries, but we’ve got enough talent and experience to challenge for the conference title,” he added.

Opponents may have a tough time generating shots against Hewlett keepers Sarah Herzberg and Nathalie Nidetch, who are expected to share time much like last season. Herzberg, a senior, also plays in the midfield and could see a boost in minutes there early in the campaign as others recover from injury. Nidetch is a sophomore and someone Kreiss is counting on to start full-time down the road. “Sarah and Nathalie have similar skill sets and push each other hard,” Kreiss said. “They’re both deserving of time and everyone has confidence in their abilities.”

The starting defense returns intact from a year ago and is spearheaded by senior sweeper Ivy Greenbaum, a three-year starter. An All-County selection and captain, she’s quick to anticipate and does an outstanding job of clearing the ball out of danger. “She’s got tremendous knowledge of the game and the style we play,” Kreiss said. “She sees the field and reads plays really well.”

Senior Val DeNapoli is one of the best female athletes in the school and a tenacious defender in multiple sports. An All-Conference stopper, Kreiss said she’s “always in the right spot at the right time.” At outside back, seniors Katie Hochberg and Melissa Ramos are returning starters, though the latter is missing some time with a knee injury. Senior Halle Bershad and junior Julie Troyetsky will also contribute.