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Mostly Cloudy Baldwin field hockey is rolling
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Ashley Ainbinder is a force at midfield for the Lady Bruins.
Susan Grieco/Herald
The season started slowly for Baldwin's field hockey team, but as the playoffs appear on the horizon, no team in Nassau County may be on a bigger roll. The Lady Bruins (5-5 overall), ripped off their fifth win in six games, including a third consecutive shutout, with a 2-0 victory over Port Washington on Oct. 13. Senior goaltender Arielle Cummings stopped seven shots, while junior forward Moira York and freshman forward Amanda Clemens each scored in the win.
"When things break down it's almost to the point that we're expecting her to make the save," coach Mike Hoover said of Cummings. "She's so confident, her positioning is outstanding and she's a leader vocally. She's constantly communicating to [the team]."
York and Clemens are a contrast in terms of experience, but have made for a strong tandem up front. York, an all-around athlete, is quick in transition and aggressive fighting for ground balls. Clemens, meanwhile, is starting to step into a bigger role after adjusting to the varsity level. "It's so hard to score goals in field hockey and it's even harder for a freshman," Hoover said of Clemens, who's scored three goals in the last three games. "She's really starting to look confident."
The recent shutout string also includes a 2-0 victory over Oyster Bay on Oct. 8 and a 6-0 win over Sewanhaka two days earlier. Playing in front of Cummings, a three-year starter, are senior Nicole Barberio, a four-year starting defender, and a pair of sophomores, Valerie Giobanelli and Gianna Navarro. The trio gives Baldwin a solid group on the back end of the field. "We are an experienced team, but there are four or five girls who are in their first year at this level," Hoover said. "But they are aggressive and not afraid to make mistakes, which is what you want to see."
Playing aggressive is a must under Hoover, who likes to see as much of an up-tempo style as possible, whether it's switching from defense to offense or simply slowing down an approaching attack. And as the team gets set to take on first place East Meadow in a makeup game this Friday, it's become clear during the 5-1 run that the team is successful with the philosophy.
“They're hanging their hats on the fact they've won five of the last six," Hoover said. "There's something to be said about winning [being] contagious."
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