Pearl River Field Hockey Matures Into Winner

The Pearl River field hockey team's junior class hit seventh grade just in time for the first year of the program's modified team. 

"That helped us a lot that they have played since seventh grade," Pearl River varsity Head Coach Shane Carlacci said. "(Before that), you get kids coming out in ninth grade for the JV and they had never played before."

That early development helped that junior class play a key role for this year's Pearl River varsity, which enters today's senior recognition game against Clarkstown South with a record of 9-2-4, having gone unbeaten since suffering two losses and a tie in their first three contests of the season.

"It's been great. It was shaky at the beginning, but even when they lost, you could see they had it in them," Carlacci said. "What came together is they are playing the whole game now, playing two 30-minute halves. That's what we needed to get done."

Carlacci said that maturity played a key role. Much of the current roster, especially the juniors, has been playing together at the varsity level for three years. Two years ago, they won one playoff game before losing to eventual state champion Lakeland. Last year, the Pirates were 5-9-3 and lost their playoff opener to Pelpham.  

"We've had the same kids playing together now for a few years," Carlacci said. "That's helped a lot.

"We have quite a few who play all year. We do team things together. We won the summer league in Torne Valley for the first time. They can compete and they had to start to believe they were as good as they are. The summer league was a great experience for them, to pump them up going into the preseason."

The Pirates are winning in large part to their ability to keep possession of the ball.

"I think we are good at putting a lot of pressure on the other team's defense," Carlacci said. "We have a lot of possession time, which is good. The more time we possess the ball, they less they have it."

That has also created more scoring opportunities, something the Pirates have done a better job taking advantage of this season.

"This year we have really gotten a lot better at finishing goals," Carlacci said. 

Nobody has done that more than the team's leading scorer, junior Courtney Ocasal, who has 18 goals and nine assists. 

"Courtney has done something every game but two," Carlacci said. "She is our center middle. She controls the ball. She brings it up. She is involved in the corners offensively and defensively. She has brought a lot to the team."

Junior Jackie Dowling leads the team in assists with nine. Carlacci said juniors Maggie Davin, Erin Dolphin and AnaMaria Ferrara are also multiple goal scorers.

The team's defense has been sound as well, posting shutouts five times this season. Goalie Annie McBride, another junior, has 81 saves. Senior Deirdre O'Malley is the leader on defense. Carlacci said the entire unit deserves credit for its solid play this season.

The Section 1 field hockey playoff pairings meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 23, with play-in games Wednesday and the first round Thursday.

"I just hope our record gets us a decent seed," Carlacci said.