2011 Preview: Hauppauge Girls Soccer

Hauppauge soccer fans can expect to see familiar faces on the field, but the team's strengths are well-known to their competition. So the Eagles are mixing things up, and hoping that a few changes can help put them in playoff contention.

Head Coach: Jesseca Kulesa, 5th year

2010 Record: 7-3-6

Top Players

• Stephanie Peragallo, senior midfielder
• Taylor Venturino, senior forward
• Diana Poulin, junior goalkeeper

Key Losses

• Jennifer Poretto, senior forward
• Jessica Venturino, senior forward/midfielder

Position Breakdown

With nine players returning to the field this fall, Hauppauge will be leaning on their seniors' experience to guide their new teammates.

Junior Diana Poulin returns as goalkeeper for the Eagles, after proving a difficult foe to challengers in the 2010 season.

"I'm really excited to have Poulin back. I have one of the best keepers in Suffolk County," the coach said.

In front of her, senior midfielder Stephanie Peragallo steps onto the field as a captain this season. Kulesa said she expects Peragallo to provide a strong midfield core for the team.

She will be joined by senior captain Taylor Venturino, a forward, and senior Juliette Loccisano, who returns to the midfield after sitting the bench most of 2010 with a concussion. 

These three players are expected to help anchor 11 new players this year, Kulesa said, ranging from experienced varsity athletes to three incoming freshman. Hauppauge sports fans might be surprised to see senior Taylor Ranftle, a All-American lacrosse player, playing on the soccer team for the first time.

Expectations

The Eagles hope to do well in Division IV, but the head coach said she has a few big unanswered questions as the season approaches.

"How are we going to score? How well are we going to communicate on the field," Kulesa said "Those are my big questions."

The first question doesn't seem that difficult, as the Peragallo has been the team's leading scorer for the past three seasons. However, it's not the simple according to the coach.

"Everyone knows Peragallo. Everyone has a game plan to deal with her," she said.

So Hauppauge is changing up their formation, moving one player from their traditional four-man midfield up front. That will give the Eagles three forwards on the attack. 

"By going to three-man formation up front, we're trying to give the forwards more opportunities to score," Kulesa said. "Now it's just trying to plug the right people in there."

But the offense isn't the only things being changed up for the 2011 season. Hauppauge's defense will be switching from playing a deep four-man defense with a sweeper to a flat back.

Key Games This Month

• Sept. 19 vs. West Babylon, 4 p.m.
• Sept. 21 at North Babylon, 4 p.m.