Dragone Takes Over Bonac Field Hockey Program

The East Hampton field hockey team has a new coach this year, but she’s a familiar face.

Dana Dragone, a 2012 graduate, is taking over after former coach Nicole Ficeto stepped down. Dragone was a four-year player for the Bonackers during her high school career, as the starting center forward, and played on a club team at the University of Vermont. She returned to her alma mater three years ago to coach the JV team, which means she’s coached most of the girls on this year’s varsity squad.

Dragone said she’s excited about the upcoming season.

“I know the team, and I know how they play,” she said. “It’s definitely a great group of girls who work well together.”

The Bonackers lost a few seniors to graduation, and a small handful of players who Dragone said chose not to play this year, but there is a strong returning nucleus to lead the team.

Seniors Arabella Kuplins and Delilah Desmond will play on the forward line and lead the scoring effort, while the squad’s only other senior, Emma Stein, will anchor the defense.

Chloe Coleman, Emma McGrory, Ally Schaefer, Casey Stumpf, Melina Sarlo, and Sadie Cober are all returning varsity players, while Grace Merkert, Toby Allen, and Ava Arcoleo were pulled up to the varsity for playoffs last year and should have a bigger impact in their first full seasons on varsity, Dragone said. Allen was the leading scorer on JV. Dragone also added that Katie Bruno, who was injured most of last year, is returning to the varsity.

In goal, the Bonackers have a young starter with a promising future in eighth-grader Caleigh Schuster, a committed player who competes year round on a travel team.

East Hampton, a Class B school competing in the power-ranked Division II (which includes Class B and C schools), was scheduled to open the season at home against Port Jefferson on September 1 and visit Bayport on September 3 for a 4:30 p.m. game. The Bonackers will host Babylon on September 10 at 4:30 p.m.