The Varsity Girls Ice Hockey team is a close knit group of 12 very dedicated young athletes. Under the leadership of Head Coach Zoe Schwam they will play their inaugural season in the Womens Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid Atlantic ( WIHLMA) . This is a great opportunity for Portledge Hockey and the girls are quite enthusiastic about their prospects.
Who Are the Leaders of the Varsity Girls Team?
The VGIH team is led by a trio of veterans who have all been with the program since its first game four years ago. Senior rear guard and co captain Kelly Alefeld and Senior goalie Jess Sarrantonio take charge of the Lady Panthers defensive zone with a combination of great skill and quality leadership, while Junior forward and co captain Siena Falino continues to illustrate why she is so respected in the world of Portledge athletics by maintaining a presence of thorough determination and regal eloquence. These three exceptional young ladies set an incredible example for the younger players by consistently working hard and never losing sight of their commitment to the development of girls ice hockey at Portledge.
Who Are Some of the Other Forwards on the Team?
Senior Liz Lanza returns to the ice after missing last year with an injury and is having a blast playing again. She often teams with Freshmen Alyssa Parke and Ashley Wade to form a line that creates a great deal of offensive pressure. Sophomore Addie Reilly has tremendous potential as a goal scorer and can usually be found riding shotgun on Falino's wing, always fighting hard to control loose pucks. Freshmen Maria Robbins is a consistent skater who loves to play the game, and Freshman Hope Mulry is also working hard in practice and coming along quite nicely as an all around player.
How Many Defenders Does the Team Have?
Only two other girls, Sophomores Chelsea Caracciolo and Emily Prey combine with Alefeld to form the teams blue line corps. They will each get a lot of ice time and have the opportunity to be an excellent and mobile defense. While they are all great skaters, the most impressive thing so far has been their impeccable positioning during fast paced play. It seems that they are never caught up and are always giving Goaltender Jess Sarrantonio lots of protection.
What Happened in the Lady Panthers First Game at the Gunnery?
Gunnery and Portledge have played three times in girls ice hockey with the Gunnery winning all three contests. As the teams took the ice this past Wednesday night it first appeared as if the Gunners would easily make it four straight over the Lady Panthers. Someone, however, forgot to tell Siena Falino and the rest of the Portledge players about this plan. From the drop of the puck it was a hard fought and physical contest as the referees gave the girls plenty of room to play a determined game. Both sides had good scoring chances during the first period, but neither team was able to put one by the opposing goalie and the period ended in a 0-0 tie. The Gunnery girls came out strong in the second stanza and consistently applied forechecking pressure in the Portledge zone. Finally, after a long shift with many attempts on the Portledge cage, Gunnery took the lead when their first line center sent a beautiful backhand shot past Sarrantonio and into the lower right corner of the net. The Lady Panthers steadied themselves though, and created some good chances of their own in the periods closing minutes. Even though they trailed 1-0 the Portledge girls were feeling comfortable and skating well as they took the ice for the third and final period. At the seven minute mark Falino got loose in front of the gunnery net and slid one by the keeper to tie the score at 1. As the period went on the Gunnery girls tired a bit, while the Lady Panthers were able to maintain their overall speed and pace. When the horn sounded to signal the end of regulation it was Portledge that was carrying the play. The overtime was a wild affair with the teams rushing the puck from end to end and almost no whistles to stop the rapid play. When Freshmen Alyssa Parke and a Gunnery player were sent off with coincidental minors for holding with a minute left I think it was an advantage for Portledge in that it created more open ice for Falino to work some of her magic. As the time ticked away and the clock showed 0.12 seconds to play Freshman Ashley Wade gathered a loose puck in the Portledge zone along the left boards. When she looked up she saw Falino streaking across the ice and sent the puck along in her path. The pass was perfect. It caught Falino in full stride and enabled her to get her head up at just the right time to elude one of the Gunnery defenders. Then she turned on the jets and raced towards the Gunnery zone. They couldn't catch her as all of a sudden, with less than 0.05 seconds remaining, Falino was in all alone . A slick move to the backhand and a calm finish put Portledge ahead right as the final horn sounded. THE BENCH EXPLODED IN JOY as the referee signaled goal and the girls realized that all their hard work had paid off in a very improbable victory. The 2-1 win with no time left will fade into Portledge hockey history, but it will never be forgotten by anyone who was there to witness it, or by the lucky girls who played in this amazing game.
Come see the Lady Panther skaters when they take on their league rivals Morristown-Beard this coming Monday, 12/3 down at Beaver Dam @5:30pm. You won't be disappointed, and you might even catch another miracle.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Harmony Is the Design/Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Looks to Effectively Mix Expirience With Youthful Talent
Morale is high surrounding this year's Portledge Panther hockey team. The team has some significant depth on their forward lines and a solid corps of blue liners. When you add in last year's surprise star, goalie Sal Magliocco, it should equal a strong season for the icemen.
Who Are Some of the Key Players On Offense?
Leading the group of returning players is Senior captain Zack Lombardi. Lombardi is set for his 5th campaign with the Panthers, and provides the team with some incredible experience. His ability to see the ice and organize the power play will be critical to the offensive output this winter. Seniors Alfred "Big Al" Vitsentzos, Austin Prey and Dan Leavey all must come up with huge contributions, if the glory days of Portledge hockey are to return to the frozen tundra of Beaver Dam. The team's depth is certainly better as Coach Coope can also call on slick sKating Junior Renny Kraft and a group of very talented youngsters for added firepower. Freshman Tom Parisi looks to be a player that will score many goals as he develops, and the trio of Freshman Stephen DiBartolomeo and 8th graders Matt Crockett and Brendan McGovern are already impressing in practice. As this varied group comes together, the Panthers should produce some exciting and wide open hockey.
What Does the Team's Defense Look Like?
Their will be four key players on the Portledge blue line. Junior Tim Morrison and Sophomore Dave Wilson will get a good deal of the ice time against the other teams top lines, while Freshmen Ryan Gottfried and Pat Condon will look to add experience to their abundant talent. Once Wilson returns from a nagging leg injury look for this group to provide some excellent all around play. Sophomore goalie Sal Magliocco should be great in the nets and keep Portledge in many a tight game.
Was That Portledge Alum Jon Sandos '03 on the Ice the Other Night at Practice?
A very exciting development is the addition of Coach Sandos to the Portledge ice hockey program. A former captain of the Panthers, and college star at Cortland State, Sandos brings his energy and commitment to the ice every day. I always held Jon's character in the highest regard and couldn't be more enthused about him joining Portledge Hockey. Good luck to Jon, coaches Coope and Schwab and all the guys on the team. LET'S HAVE A GREAT SEASON!
Who Are Some of the Key Players On Offense?
Leading the group of returning players is Senior captain Zack Lombardi. Lombardi is set for his 5th campaign with the Panthers, and provides the team with some incredible experience. His ability to see the ice and organize the power play will be critical to the offensive output this winter. Seniors Alfred "Big Al" Vitsentzos, Austin Prey and Dan Leavey all must come up with huge contributions, if the glory days of Portledge hockey are to return to the frozen tundra of Beaver Dam. The team's depth is certainly better as Coach Coope can also call on slick sKating Junior Renny Kraft and a group of very talented youngsters for added firepower. Freshman Tom Parisi looks to be a player that will score many goals as he develops, and the trio of Freshman Stephen DiBartolomeo and 8th graders Matt Crockett and Brendan McGovern are already impressing in practice. As this varied group comes together, the Panthers should produce some exciting and wide open hockey.
What Does the Team's Defense Look Like?
Their will be four key players on the Portledge blue line. Junior Tim Morrison and Sophomore Dave Wilson will get a good deal of the ice time against the other teams top lines, while Freshmen Ryan Gottfried and Pat Condon will look to add experience to their abundant talent. Once Wilson returns from a nagging leg injury look for this group to provide some excellent all around play. Sophomore goalie Sal Magliocco should be great in the nets and keep Portledge in many a tight game.
Was That Portledge Alum Jon Sandos '03 on the Ice the Other Night at Practice?
A very exciting development is the addition of Coach Sandos to the Portledge ice hockey program. A former captain of the Panthers, and college star at Cortland State, Sandos brings his energy and commitment to the ice every day. I always held Jon's character in the highest regard and couldn't be more enthused about him joining Portledge Hockey. Good luck to Jon, coaches Coope and Schwab and all the guys on the team. LET'S HAVE A GREAT SEASON!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Varsity Girls Basketball Looks To Rebuild, While Varsity Boys Hope to Take Advantage of Their Experience
In an attempt to get people fired up for the next sports season, here are some previews of this winter's Varsity Basketball teams. Previews of the Ice Hockey, Fencing and Squash teams will be coming soon. Games have already begun, so don't be shy! Get out and support the Panthers whenever possible.
How Big a Rebuilding Job Do the Varsity Girls Basketball Coaches Have?
In year one of the post Emily Edwards-Bourdrez Era in Portledge Girls Basketball there will be quite a few different faces and some younger players out on the court for the Lady Panthers. Coaches Henry and Reynolds were blessed with a large turnout for tryouts, and they will look to create a positive attitude of hard work that will carry the program forward into the future. In fact, there were so many players out for the team that some extra practices will be added, and some JV games scheduled, to help satisfy all of the interest. Some real thanks should go to Miss Henry and Mrs. Reynolds for taking the initiative and devoting their time to create this opportunity for all the girls interested in basketball in the upper school. It looks as if next year there will have to be a full fledged JV program. Getting back to this year though, the coaches will certainly be faced with some real challenges as the Varsity players are a bit short on experience.
One key returning player on the Varsity will be senior Yola Yu. Yola has been on the team for four years and is a proven rebounder and solid defender. Her competetiveness will be crucial as this young group searches for their identity during the early going. Another important returning player will be sophomore point guard Monique Kelly. Kelly is coming of off a great soccer season and she has looked good in practices and scrimmages so far. After concentrating mostly on passing last year, Kelly will be asked to score the ball more as this season rolls on. Two other returners who will be looking for increased minutes are Junior Leah Heffernan and Sophomore Robyn Worrall. Both these players, neither of whom played much last year, are good shooters, and will have to look to put the ball up when they are open. The player with the most potential to have a big impact is definitely Sophomore Akanksha Trivedi. Trivedi is the tallest player on the team and has worked hard during the off season to develop her ball handling and shooting skills. If Trivedi can score and rebound with some consistency, it will be a big plus for the Lady Panthers. The rest of the Varsity team is made up of a group of freshmen and sophomores who are ready to work hard and improve their skills as the program goes forward. The Lady Panthers won their first game of the season by defeating the Varsity of Mill Neck Manor and will next take the court at HOME on Tuesday v. Solomon Schechter (5:30pm).
How Do Things Look For the Varsity Boys Basketball Team?
The Varsity Boys team will go into its third year under the leadership of Head Coach Sandoval with a good deal of experience and some real talent. It looks to be an unselfish team that takes as much pleasure from setting up a teammate as they do in scoring. The overall play of Junior point guard Aaron Lee will be critical to the team's chances for success. Lee looks be much more comfortable handling the ball and directing the offense this year and it will be his job to spread the ball around to some fine scorers. Senior Kai Stoll returns to the middle of the Portledge line up and will be trying to build on two consecutive strong seasons. Stoll has great touch around the basket and should be counted on for double digit scoring game in and game out. Along side will be Senior forward Reid Ericson. Reid is a consistent player who will probably find more opportunities to score this year, as the ball seems to be moving more freely around the Portledge offense. The starting wing players will be Junior Trevor Wolfson and Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin. These two players might be the best athletes on the team and both have the potential to "fill it up". Wolfson plays solid "D" and loves to get out on the break , while Dourmashkin is kiddingly referred to as "Little Larry" because of his ability to both shoot and pass the ball at a very high level. In a scrimmage last week against Martin Luther, Dourmashkin was in the middle of some really nice Portledge passing plays, as he epitomized the team's unselfish attitude. Help off the bench will come from Seniors Ray Weinmann and Dan Duffy up front, while Junior Mike McCloskey will probably be spelling the back court players. In addition, everyone will be watching for the development of Sohpomores Ben Shapiro and Jon "JB" Brailsford as the season goes along. If these two can become contributors, Mr. Sandoval will have some real depth to work with. The Panthers first match is a tough one, as they open up at HOME v. Upper Room, last year's IPPSAL champ. This game will be on Wed, Nov 28th @5:30 pm.
How Big a Rebuilding Job Do the Varsity Girls Basketball Coaches Have?
In year one of the post Emily Edwards-Bourdrez Era in Portledge Girls Basketball there will be quite a few different faces and some younger players out on the court for the Lady Panthers. Coaches Henry and Reynolds were blessed with a large turnout for tryouts, and they will look to create a positive attitude of hard work that will carry the program forward into the future. In fact, there were so many players out for the team that some extra practices will be added, and some JV games scheduled, to help satisfy all of the interest. Some real thanks should go to Miss Henry and Mrs. Reynolds for taking the initiative and devoting their time to create this opportunity for all the girls interested in basketball in the upper school. It looks as if next year there will have to be a full fledged JV program. Getting back to this year though, the coaches will certainly be faced with some real challenges as the Varsity players are a bit short on experience.
One key returning player on the Varsity will be senior Yola Yu. Yola has been on the team for four years and is a proven rebounder and solid defender. Her competetiveness will be crucial as this young group searches for their identity during the early going. Another important returning player will be sophomore point guard Monique Kelly. Kelly is coming of off a great soccer season and she has looked good in practices and scrimmages so far. After concentrating mostly on passing last year, Kelly will be asked to score the ball more as this season rolls on. Two other returners who will be looking for increased minutes are Junior Leah Heffernan and Sophomore Robyn Worrall. Both these players, neither of whom played much last year, are good shooters, and will have to look to put the ball up when they are open. The player with the most potential to have a big impact is definitely Sophomore Akanksha Trivedi. Trivedi is the tallest player on the team and has worked hard during the off season to develop her ball handling and shooting skills. If Trivedi can score and rebound with some consistency, it will be a big plus for the Lady Panthers. The rest of the Varsity team is made up of a group of freshmen and sophomores who are ready to work hard and improve their skills as the program goes forward. The Lady Panthers won their first game of the season by defeating the Varsity of Mill Neck Manor and will next take the court at HOME on Tuesday v. Solomon Schechter (5:30pm).
How Do Things Look For the Varsity Boys Basketball Team?
The Varsity Boys team will go into its third year under the leadership of Head Coach Sandoval with a good deal of experience and some real talent. It looks to be an unselfish team that takes as much pleasure from setting up a teammate as they do in scoring. The overall play of Junior point guard Aaron Lee will be critical to the team's chances for success. Lee looks be much more comfortable handling the ball and directing the offense this year and it will be his job to spread the ball around to some fine scorers. Senior Kai Stoll returns to the middle of the Portledge line up and will be trying to build on two consecutive strong seasons. Stoll has great touch around the basket and should be counted on for double digit scoring game in and game out. Along side will be Senior forward Reid Ericson. Reid is a consistent player who will probably find more opportunities to score this year, as the ball seems to be moving more freely around the Portledge offense. The starting wing players will be Junior Trevor Wolfson and Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin. These two players might be the best athletes on the team and both have the potential to "fill it up". Wolfson plays solid "D" and loves to get out on the break , while Dourmashkin is kiddingly referred to as "Little Larry" because of his ability to both shoot and pass the ball at a very high level. In a scrimmage last week against Martin Luther, Dourmashkin was in the middle of some really nice Portledge passing plays, as he epitomized the team's unselfish attitude. Help off the bench will come from Seniors Ray Weinmann and Dan Duffy up front, while Junior Mike McCloskey will probably be spelling the back court players. In addition, everyone will be watching for the development of Sohpomores Ben Shapiro and Jon "JB" Brailsford as the season goes along. If these two can become contributors, Mr. Sandoval will have some real depth to work with. The Panthers first match is a tough one, as they open up at HOME v. Upper Room, last year's IPPSAL champ. This game will be on Wed, Nov 28th @5:30 pm.
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