Veteran Players Lead Finley
Field Hockey
A group of experienced players led last fall's J. Taylor Finley Middle School field hockey team. Coached by Nancy Conlon, the Falcons finished with a 3-5 record.
Finley's roster was packed with 37 players, including 21 eighth graders. Elizabeth Berejka, Jessica Greene, Sarah Macedonio and Emma Alexander served as team captains. "This year's team was like a family," Conlon said. "Everyone got along great and worked hard."
Berejka, Macedonio and Christy Reinertsen led the Falcons. "Elizabeth Bereka has great skills," Conlon said about the eighth grader. "She's fast and has excellent stick work."
Macedonio and Reinertsen are both superb eighth grade goalies. Conlon said the duo did "a great job." The pair combined for three shutouts and kept the Falcons competitive against a series of tough opponents.
Finley played its best game against Northport, although the team lost, 1-0. "But, defensively, we were great," Conlon said. The Falcons picked up victories against West Hollow (3-0), Candlewood (3-2) and Commack (2-0). Finley lost a second time to Northport (3-0) and also dropped a pair of games to East Northport (2-0 and 1-0) and a contest with Oldfield (4-0).
Conlon, a former Huntington High School star herself, is looking forward to next fall when 16 players are eligible to return. The veteran coach is always positive-thinking and has led Finley's field hockey program for two decades.