WEEDSPORT - Allie Beardsley and Katie Loperfido have been on the Weedsport field hockey team for four years. They've experienced all of the highs and lows that varsity sports can offer, and can still say that they went out on top.
Michelle Prego-Milewski / Special to The Citizen
Seniors Katie Loperfido, left, and Allie Beardsley helped lead the Weedsport field hockey team to the Section III, Class D title game.
Seniors Katie Loperfido, left, and Allie Beardsley helped lead the Weedsport field hockey team to the Section III, Class D title game.
The tandem made opposing defenses cringe all season, combining for 28 goals. Beardsley and Loperfido, both seniors, were the best at what they did throughout the count, and that's why they are the players of the year for the 2007 field hockey season.
“(Loperfido) is one of the best wings that will ever come through Weedsport,” Beardsley said. “We played really well together because she was left wing and I was left attack.”
Loperfido also has kind words for her teammate.
“Allie is a great athlete, she's a great leader and she just helps everyone,” Loperfido said. “If you have a bad day you go to Allie and she'll cheer you right up.”
Both girls shined from the season opener, the inaugural Cayuga County Field Hockey Tournament - which the Warriors won. Beardsley was named MVP and Loperfido was elected to the all-tournament team.
“It was nice coming into the season with wins behind us,” Loperfido said.
Besides Beardsley and Loperfido, a strong supporting cast led the Warriors to the Section III, Class D championship game. Though Weedsport's season was ended by Morrisville-Eaton and Cazenovia slipped away with the league title, a 15-5 record is still something that many teams would gladly have.
Beardsley has no regrets.
“When you don't have any years left you notice how much fun it is and you take advantage of every moment,” she said.
While both girls were named first-team all-league, and all-state (Beardsley was first team, Loperfido was an honorable mention), only Beardsley plans to play at the next level.
Weedsport coach Theresa Leonardi believes that all of the hard work the pair has put in has paid off. Especially for Loperfido, who found the net three times last year but scored 16 times in 2007.
“The both of them are willing to dive to get the ball, they really want the team to win,” she said. “They really want to get the goal and they want to do whatever it takes to make us successful.”
“(Loperfido) is one of the best wings that will ever come through Weedsport,” Beardsley said. “We played really well together because she was left wing and I was left attack.”
Loperfido also has kind words for her teammate.
“Allie is a great athlete, she's a great leader and she just helps everyone,” Loperfido said. “If you have a bad day you go to Allie and she'll cheer you right up.”
Both girls shined from the season opener, the inaugural Cayuga County Field Hockey Tournament - which the Warriors won. Beardsley was named MVP and Loperfido was elected to the all-tournament team.
“It was nice coming into the season with wins behind us,” Loperfido said.
Besides Beardsley and Loperfido, a strong supporting cast led the Warriors to the Section III, Class D championship game. Though Weedsport's season was ended by Morrisville-Eaton and Cazenovia slipped away with the league title, a 15-5 record is still something that many teams would gladly have.
Beardsley has no regrets.
“When you don't have any years left you notice how much fun it is and you take advantage of every moment,” she said.
While both girls were named first-team all-league, and all-state (Beardsley was first team, Loperfido was an honorable mention), only Beardsley plans to play at the next level.
Weedsport coach Theresa Leonardi believes that all of the hard work the pair has put in has paid off. Especially for Loperfido, who found the net three times last year but scored 16 times in 2007.
“The both of them are willing to dive to get the ball, they really want the team to win,” she said. “They really want to get the goal and they want to do whatever it takes to make us successful.”
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