Putnam Valley Field Hockey Team Finishes a Strong Season

PUTNAM VALLEY—The Putnam Valley High field hockey team finished its season with a record of 15-4, and reached the Class C final, where the Tigers lost a 3-2 overtime thriller to Bronxville.

Amanda DeChent SKIP DeChent SKIP PEARLmAN It was a tough loss, but coach Toniann Cortina was anything but disappointed.

“It was a season that started off with the unknown,” said Cortina. “We graduated so many and it was supposed to be a rebuilding year, instead we ended up in the finals. The first two games of the playoffs I knew we would play well, but the girls really stepped up and played beyond my expectations in the finals. I was very proud of how far we came.”

A great season went along with a ton of great individual performances. Many players took home post-season awards.

Put Valley had nine All-League selections, Seniors Demetria Andritsopoulos, Tianna Daley, Hannah Tavella and Amanda DeChent were all named. Erica Wharton, Maria Rao and Victoria Stanishia were the only juniors awarded. Sophomore Dana Tatnell and freshman Erin McCrudden were also honored.

Hannah Tavella SKIP Tavella SKIP PEARLmAN DeChent, the team’s leader in goals with 19, earned All-Elite and All-Section honors. Wharton also got All-Section and All-Elite Honorable Mention. Tavella, the team’s assists leader with six, received All-Section and All-Elite to go with her All-State honors.

PV only graduates four this year, but they are important seniors. “These girls were the leaders of our team,” said Cortina. “They were the most experienced and all of them were three year varsity players. The bright side is we return a lot of talented players, hopefully they are ready to step in and perform next year.”