Sports

Chong’s arrival means fresh start for championship-minded Molloy

Molly's Kaitlyn Biscotti is back in net.

Molly’s Kaitlyn Biscotti is back in net. (Brit Worgan)

The atmosphere around Archbishop Molloy changed from Day 1 with the arrival of new coach Fabian Chong.

The players said they had gotten comfortable with former coach Lauren Spota and in their roles. Chong taking over brought the feeling that they had to reprove themselves again and reaffirm their positions on the team.

The former St. John’s Prep boys coach wasn’t going to make it easy either.

“He gave us Hell Week and he didn’t even know us that well and he wasn’t afraid to push us, make us hate him at first,” senior midfielder Casey Collins said. “I think that was good.”

It’s gotten the Stanners off to a fast start in the preseason. Chong, who was hired at Molloy as a physics teacher, has stressed fitness. He credited Spota, who will stay on as an assistant, for the job she had done prior with their conditioning and knowledge of the game.

Molloy had won two straight CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk Class A titles before losing in last year’s final to Our Lady of Mercy. That has only added motivation.

“It still gets me mad when you think about it, so I’m pretty sure this year we are just going to come out strong,” senior goalie Kaitlyn Biscotti said. “I want to win in my last year.”

Molloy knows it won’t be easy to replace star midfielder Kyra Meli, now at St. Rose. Chong has a bevy of midfield candidates to choose from including the versatile Collins, who led the team in goals last season. Junior Victoria Antonino is speedy, superb with the ball at her feet and one of the Stanners’ main offensive cogs. Chong has high hopes for junior Jessie Jamin and senior Kristen Loyer. Both could also see time at forward. Kathleen Gribbon, Emily Rogawski, Ivonne Caceres and Cathryn Brown could all see time at midfield.

“I like to play a possession game,” Chong said. “I think I have enough kids to really hold that midfield. I have a good amount of speed that I can attack in quick bursts.”

It’s in the back where Molloy will need to fill in two spots. Senor Shannon Dinerman is expected to make a seamless transition to sweeper, taking over for the graduated Tara Dillon. Biscotti returns more confident in the net in her second season there. Lauren Viggiano and freshman Lindsey Wynn are expected to be major contributors on defense. Chong and his team’s older players believe Wynn could be a special player for years to come.

“You have a foundation now of girls that are returning that know the system that know what to do and help the new girls,” Chong said.

He is trying to build off the foundation Spota left. Chong rocked that foundation a bit early, pushing the players to their limits. It only ended up making his bond with them that much stronger.

“We were kind of getting really comfortable with our old coach,” Dinerman said. “It’s been a breath of fresh air having him, because he makes us work harder.”