Before taking over for Sue Hoffman, who started the program over 20 years ago and retired after last season, Lofink coached the Saratoga Springs junior varsity level for five years, followed by another five years at the modified level, where she coached all but one player on the current roster.
“I have high expectations because I’ve coached all these girls before, so I know we can work really well together,” Lofink said. “Our team bonding is excellent. I feel close with them. I feel like I know them. They’re older now, so it is a little bit different, but it’s good to see how much they’ve matured and how much they’ve grown. It’s good to have that background because I know what makes them tick.”
One player who will have to make the team tick is lone senior and captain, Briana Sirianni, who committed to playing lacrosse for Siena in early December. Coming off a Second Team All-Suburban Council season, the midfielder has started off hot, leading the Blue Streaks with 12 points just two games into the season.
“[Briana] is hard working,” Lofink said. “You can tell. She completely takes charge on the field. The girls love her. She’s a great role model. She sets our team in motion and she tries to get everybody motivated. The girls take after her. They want to be like her.”
The team captain’s four goals were more than enough in the season opening 17-1 win over Ballston Spa last Friday, but her five goals against Burnt Hills on Tuesday, April 2 at Skidmore College couldn’t keep the Blue Streaks from losing their first Suburban Council match.
After going into halftime down 6-4, Saratoga’s Lizzie DeLorenzo assisted Amanda Flemming to cut the game to a one-point deficit just over a minute into the second half. But that was as close as the Blue Streaks would come to the Spartans as they lost, 14-9, before heading into Thursday’s matchup at Shenendehowa with a record of 1-1.
Despite the challenge of having a young squad, Lofink anticipates a season where the team can be better than their 5-10 record in 2012 with a full-roster effort.
“Being young, the experience you need at a fast-paced varsity level, that’s what we need to work on,” Lofink said. “But I don’t feel we should be underestimated because we do have a lot of talent and I think we have a lot of potential.”
Two of those young players who look to have promising offensive futures are sophomores Molly Kerne and Hanna Wise, who Lofink said will both be “forces to be reckoned with” in the Suburban.
“Molly Kerne is a great offensive player,” Lofink said. “She brings a lot of skill and tenacity to the game. She’s really hungry and wants it really bad.”
The Blue Streaks play Niskayuna on April 9 before hosting what looks to be one of the favorites to win the Suburban Council. On April 22, Saratoga hosts defending Section II Division I champion Shaker, who had 21 points against Ballston Spa on Tuesday.
