Experience a plus for Lady Spartans

Coach Geoff O’Connell said morale and expectations are high for Valley Stream North’s girls soccer team, which won its last six regular-season games in 2011 and qualified for the Nassau Class A playoffs after finishing second in Conference A-III.

“We had a productive opening week of practice and looking to pick up where we left off,” O’Connell said. “We moved up one conference, but we’ve got a veteran team with a lot of potential.”

O’Connell is expecting a tight battle every game in Conference A-II, which includes Manhasset, Jericho, New Hyde Park, Wantagh, Bethpage and Seaford. “We’re really excited for it, and I’m expecting a lot of one-goal games,” he said of the challenging schedule. “We have potential to make a name for ourselves.”

Having a goalkeeper with four years of experience in the cage won’t make things easy for the competition. Senior Dana Morgante, a fifth-year varsity player who last season earned All-Class honors, is North’s last line of defense. “She’s a three-sport athlete and one of the most athletic kids I’ve ever coached,” O’Connell said. “Her energy level and competitiveness are contagious. It’s a luxury to have someone back there with her ability and leadership qualities.”

Likely to spearhead a blue-collar defense is junior Sarah Miller, who also comes off an All-Class campaign at center-back. Described by O’Connell as a patient defender unafraid to be aggressive, Miller could see minutes in the midfield as well. The rest of the defensive corps, consisting of seniors Alexis Contreras, Heather Aleksis and Gianna Nasso, and junior TinaMarie Cassiano, provides a mixture of size and speed.

The Lady Spartans will be counting on versatile junior Alanna McDougall to create havoc in the midfield and at forward. She’s played everywhere but in goal in three previous varsity seasons and earned All-Class honors last fall while mainly working at center-midfield. “She’s a very good passer and shooter with speed,” O’Connell said.

At times, McDougall could be paired up front with junior Samantha Scaglione. The latter has a knack for putting the ball in the net and did so nine times last season. “Samantha’s built a reputation of being a goal scorer and developed her shot more during the offseason,” O’Connell said.

Senior Kamilah O’Connor and sophomores Kimberly Jelich and Elizabeth Rossi also return to the midfield. O’Connor, a captain along with Morgante and Miller stepped up as a leader, O’Connell said, and will use her tremendous field vision to push the ball to the forwards. Jelich, who can operate in the middle with O’Connor or on the outside with Rossi, can keep goalies on their toes from outside the 18 thanks to a strong foot. Rossi’s combination of speed and stamina make her a constant threat along the sideline.

“We’ve always been a strong defensive team, and we’ve got some players who can score, so I know we’ll compete,” O’Connell said.