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PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. -- The Hudson Valley Summer Field Hockey League has always been a huge part of Victoria Trentinis schedule. The 2011 Briarcliff graduate and Hamilton College freshman has been playing since she was an eighth-grader.
After graduation, Trentini had the opportunity to continue playing, thanks to league founder/director, Sharon Sarsen, in the open division. The open division was created by Sarsen, in 2007, to give high school and college players an opportunity to play during the summer.
Sarsen did this following the removal of open field hockey from the Empire State Games. The league features many of the top former Section 1 players.
Its nice because you get to play with the girls you grew up with around field hockey, Trentini said. Its nice to have this on Mondays and Thursdays and you dont have to travel far to play.
Trentini, a five-year varsity starter, who led Briarcliff to the state final four last year, wanted to stay sharp during the summer in preparation for college. Playing open offered Trentini this chance. Playing for the Ninjas, along with Harrison coach and former Lakeland great, Sara Gonzalez, Trentini is also learning from her teammates.
Practicing on my own is one thing, but this pushes me and has given me the spark to put the goalie equipment on even more so to practice, Trentini said. I need to face shots from players and this is great preparation for college.
Section 1 is one of the best sections to play in. Playing with the college players and those who graduated is good because they are teaching you things that will help you in college. Everyone who is there wants to play and I enjoy that.
Trentini is planning on returning next year. It has been a wonderful experience because of her teammates and Sarsen, she proclaimed.
Sars has helped me so much and done an amazing job adding the open league for us, said Trentini, who led the Hudson Valley scholastic womens field hockey team to a fifth consecutive gold medal in the 2010 Empire State Games. Sars puts her heart into everything she does for field hockey.
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