Section final in mind for East girls lacrosse
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

After an appearance in last year's Section VI Class B semifinal, Williamsville East girls lacrosse co-coach Kristen Zbrzezny has high hopes for this year's team.

"We'd like to get back to where we were last year and go further," said Zbrzezny, who was the East varsity assistant last year and is joined this year by coach Erin Coyne.

If the Lady Flames, 15-5 last year, are fortunate enough to make it to the finals, they will not have to face Amherst, who dropped to Class C because of enrollment.

Zbrzezny returns eight players, including senior captains Emily Williams, Erica Sizemore and Lauren Latona. All three have tons of varsity experience (Williams - four years; Sizemore and Latona - three years). Williams, an All-Western New York and Division III first team selection, led East with over 50 goals. She's a captain for the second straight season.

"She has amazing stick skills, is calm on the field, controls most of the offense, and is a great leader and teacher for the younger girls," said Zbrzezny.

Sizemore, who will play at Navy, leads the East defense. Junior Aleece Burgio, who can also play attack, and sophomore Alyssa Drozynski, will also start on defense. Burgio and Drozynski are up from JV.

Latona, a division first team all-star, plays at center midfield, has an extremely powerful shot and leads the team in faceoffs, Zbrzezny said. Returning juniors Emily Dehlinger, a division first team all-star, and Brittni Hargis, the team's leading scorer so far this year (10 goals, three assists), return in the midfield.

Junior Lauren Hall and sophomores Sarah DiPofiand Alina Swierski will play at attack. DiPofistarted last year; Hall and Swierski are up from JV.

Junior Erika Flaschner can provide speed either in the midfield or attack.

Junior Courtney Vitello, a division honorable mention, is back in net.

"She's done a lot of work in the offseason," said Zbrzezny of Vitello. "Plus her overall skills and confidence have also improved."

East is 2-2 this season but 2-0 in league play, defeating Iroquois, 14-7, and Eden, 10-3. Hargis scored five goals in each league game. Williams scored four times against Eden and twice against Iroquois. She also had three goals in East's 6-5 non-league loss with West Seneca East and another two in a 8-5 decision against Hamburg. Dehlinger added a goal and three assists versus Eden.

Others who have recorded points in the four games were Burgio (goal, two assists), DiPofi(four goals), Swierski (three goals, two assists), Latona (goal, three assists) and Flaschner (two goals).
    Williamsville East 2007 Schedule
4-17 at South ...............................   4:30 p.m.
4-19 Amherst ...............................   4:30 p.m.
4-21 at Niagara-Wheatfield...............   noon
4-24 at East Aurora.........................   7 p.m.
4-26 at Iroquois...........................   4:30 p.m.
5-2 Eden.......................................   4:30 p.m.
5-2 at Grand Island ....................   4:30 p.m.
5-3 South......................................   4:30 p.m.
5-8 at Amherst .................................   5 p.m.
5-10 East Aurora.........................   4:30 p.m.
5-15 North....................................   4:30 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com