Young Kennedy Cathol ic St ickers Looking to Get Back to Winning Ways

SOMERS—After going winless last year, the Kennedy Catholic High field hockey team is looking to get back in the hunt for the sectional playoffs this year. The Gaels lost eight seniors to graduation, so this year’s team will rely heavily on the small group returning from last year to lead the way for the newcomers.

“I have a very, very young team,” coach Patricia Hogan said. “They’re very young, they’re very energetic.”

Ailish Hogan, Alyssa Bloch, Sarah Minch, Tara Cremin and Briana Mancuso all return from last year’s team, and will need to lead the way if the Gaels are to make a run at the playoffs.

“They’re going to have to be good leaders for these younger kids who came on to the team,” Hogan said. “I don’t have any scrimmages this year, so in the first few games there’s going to have to be an awful lot of instructions being yelled out.”

Among those joining the Gaels this season is sophomore Patrice Grande who Hogan is hoping can step in and contribute offensively.

“I’m pretty excited about her,” Hogan said. “She’s a pretty good little player, so I’m looking forward to see what she can do on varsity.”

The Gaels will compete in League 1-C against Dover, Hendrick Hudson, North Salem, Pawling and Walter Panas. Hogan doesn’t expect the Gaels to win the league this year, but instead has her sights set on a return to the playoffs.

“I would love to make sectionals this year,” Hogan said. “I used to make sectionals all the time; I’m hoping we’re building back up. Even getting to the first or second round would be exciting.”

The Gaels were set to open their season in a tournament hosted by Somers on Tuesday, the results of which were too late to be included in this week’s paper. After that they return to action on Monday, September 13, the time of the game was TBA.