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PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. Ossining entered the 2012 Hudson Valley Field Hockey Summer League minus 10 graduated seniors from the 2011 Section 1 Class A finalist team.
Senior Molly Malone and her returning teammates were looking forward to playing so they could become accustomed to one another in preparation for the opening of preseason.
Not only did the Ossining players acclimate themselves to one another, the team finished off a strong summer with a 4-2 win over Lakeland Gold in the varsity third-place game Monday at Putnam Valley High School.
Malone scored twice late in the second half to snap a 2-2 tie. She finished with a hat trick and assisted on Samantha Tighes goal in the first half. Last summer, Ossining played for the summer league title.
This was extremely significant and it will help us be that much more ready for the season, Malone said of Ossinings playing this summer. Different players who did not see much field time last year stepped up and continued to grow.
Malone, whose older sister, Kate, plays field hockey for Providence College, witnessed the evolution of the team this summer.
We are at a completely different level of play, Malone said. In our first game, we were a little hesitant, but we completely raised our level of intensity.
Last summer, Ossinings excellent showing propelled the Pride to its most successful season. Malone and her teammates are hoping for a repeat this season.
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