By STEVE SINISKI
But it also gave East Meadow some added motivation heading into the offseason.
After losing just one senior, the Lady Jets returned to the field with an edge, and an eye on the big prize. ³We started doing offseason conditioning and weight training in February,² coach Matt Pedicini said. ³We¹ve never done it that early, it¹s usually in the summer. The girls are looking to change the results of the last few years.²
The senior class has made it to the semifinals of the postseason each year they¹ve been associated with the varsity program, but a slight change in philosophy, coupled with the early work and a core of talented underclass players makes it easy to see why the Lady Jets were anxious to get back on the field. They split their first two games as the host of the Melissa Siegel Rainbow of Joy Kick-Off tournament last weekend, knocking off Valley Stream South (6-2 on Friday) and dropping a one-goal decision to Garden City (2-1 on Saturday). The tournament honored Siegel, a former player, who was killed in a drunk driving accident, and East Meadow helped raised funds for drunk driving awareness.
With a switch to an attacking 3-4-3 scheme, the talent of the Lady Jets¹ offense was quite clear in the opener against Valley Stream South. Freshmen Gabriella Fuduli (two goals), Ashley Guerrero (one) and Louisa Echeverri (one) accounted for all but one of the six scores, and senior co-captain Brittany Walsh netted the other. Midfielder Jessica Widman scored her first career goal in the loss to Garden City.
Fuduli made a big splash on the varsity as an eighth-grader, and Guerrero was one of the team¹s surprises during summer camp. Echeverri, meanwhile, made a rapid rise through the JV ranks and essentially forced her way onto the varsity with outstanding play.
³We have a very fast team, a skilled team,² Pedicini said. ³We¹re just going to get after it more.²
Walsh will be counted on to control the flow as the center midfielder, where she¹ll get help from Christina Tesoriero. Sophomore Courtney Gross and Widman are among a number of Lady Jets capable of logging time at both midfield and forward. ³We have a lot of [interchangeable pieces],² Pedicini said. ³We have kids that can play a few different spots, which makes it interesting.²
Senior Cally Chakrian anchors a defense that includes senior Joanna Constantinou and sophomore Gillian Gross on the outside. Senior Jessica Stolz returns to the net and freshman Brianna Borresen is also expected to see time between the pipes.
