By Steve Siniski
Forwards Christine White and Amanda Maguire each scored twice, while midfielder Laura Van Ness added one goal. White lines up alongside Alyssa Hoover on the front line, forming a dynamic duo that opponents are having a difficult time slowing down.
"They've developed a chemistry to get the ball back and forth with each other," first-year coach Mike Hoover said. "They communicate [well]."
Kaitlyn Petit has also worked into the offensive equation, notching three goals of her own and Kate Zafonte lines up in the opponent's zone as well.
"She's crafty and always in the right place at the right time," Hoover said of Petit.
Alyssa Hoover, the team's leading scorer in each of the last two years, continues to move up the program's all-time scoring ranks. Currently third all-time in points, she had a hat trick in the first win over Port Washington, a 5-1 decision on Sept. 20. Backed by a roster of 16 players, the Lady Bruins have teamed up a potent offense with a stingy defense to make a run in a wide-open Conference II. Goaltender Diana Sepulveda has sewn up a pair of shutouts, and her backup, DaLaisha Gallant has one win under her belt as well.
The way Baldwin has controlled the tempo and field of play has kept scoring opportunities to a minimum. Seven of the first nine opponents were held to two goals or less. Nicole Spataro and Nicole Darnulc anchor the defense, keeping opponents from clogging up the middle of the field and getting good looks at the net.
Nicole Barberio, Camille Watson and Casey Riley have also logged time on the backline, though the latter has missed several recent games because of injury.
"Nicole" Spataro and Nicole Darnulc are excellent stick handlers," coach Hoover said. "They have the ability to stop and clear."
When Baldwin has been able to jump-start the transition to offense, the midfield of Catherine Thiel, Ashley Ainbinder, Loral DeSalvio and Van Ness has been able to keep the action moving forward.
"The midfield is solid and we've scored a lot of transition goals," Hoover said, noting the difficulty in maintaining that style of up-tempo play in field hockey. "The girls are determined to get the ball up front as quickly as possible. They [also] have the ability to drive the ball when we need it on free hits."
The Lady Bruins defeated Great Neck South last Friday 3-1, and were slated to face East Meadow on Oct. 17.
