Ball control key for Oceanside

Coming off its first non-playoff season in six years, Oceanside is off to an inauspicious start but returning half of the starting lineup gives coach Ken Dwyer plenty of reason for optimism.

“Overall, we’re inexperienced,” he said. “Getting back to the playoffs is our hope. Eight teams qualify in Class A and we want to be one of them. What we’ve learned over the first five games is we can be very good when we take care of the ball and limit turnovers.”

Though the Lady Sailors tasted victory just once before spring break, the win was an important one, Dwyer said. It came March 29 against Plainview — 11-3 — in the second Conference A game of the season and was highlighted by senior Danielle Montano’s four goals and junior Courtney Collins’ hat trick. “It was an early must-win,” Dwyer noted. “We need to take care of business against the teams we’re ranked ahead of.”

Montano, a four-year varsity attack with All-Conference accolades, is Oceanside’s top returning scorer and leading the offense with 13 goals. “She’s aggressive to the cage and a great finisher,” Dwyer said of Montano, who also had a four-goal effort in a 13-5 loss to Seaford on March 27 and is headed to Mercy College. “A few teams automatically doubled her so far,” he added. “She’s athletic and someone we want to get the ball to.”

Collins, who handles most of the work behind the net after making a smooth transition from defense to attack, has found the net in all but one game so far. “Courtney is excited to be playing up front and is handling it well,” Dwyer said. Senior Shannon McGuinness, who scored twice against Plainview, is the other starting attack and someone the coach looks toward to settle down the offense when situations call for it. “Shannon’s a steady influence on the field,” he said. “She’s a terrific team player.” Junior Kaitlyn Barile also sees time up front and had three assists versus Plainview.

Leading a young midfield is senior Stephanie Keane, a four-year varsity player who picked up All-Conference honors a year ago. She has three multi-goal games so far, including a hat trick in a 14-7 loss to Port Washington in the opener March 21. “Stephanie is a key player at both ends of the field,” Dwyer said.