Field of Dreams opens for the season
By Ronald Scaglia

Throughout this quirky winter of 2006-2007, the weather has not been a reliable indicator of the season. Unseasonably warm temperatures at Thanksgiving lasted past New Year's Day. Cold temperatures finally arrived in February and the only significant snowfall occurred on St. Patrick's Day.

Therefore it was not surprising that few New Yorkers noticed the first Saturday of spring on a day that was chilly and windy. However, those at the Field of Dreams had no doubt that spring had arrived as the sounds of Massapequa's youth filled the air on opening day of the 2007 season.

"It's very exciting to be here," said Jo Ellen Verity, a coach of the Firecrackers in the Massapequa Soccer Club. "Everyone's having a great time."

The Firecrackers took on the Strikers in an opening day soccer match in the 6 and 7 year old girls division of the Massapequa Soccer League. The girls play one game per week and also practice once a week. According to their coach, all the girls had a great game especially considering that the late season snowfall had prevented the teams from practicing.

The soccer fields played host to games all day as future Massapequa soccer stars showed their soccer skills and their love of their game. Not to be outdone, lacrosse players got their season under- way on the Field of Dream's lacrosse fields.

Getting underway was the Town of Oyster Bay's new lacrosse league. In this league, teams play two games per week through the first week of June. In an opening day match up of rival fifth grade teams, Massapequa defeated Farmingdale 9-1. Matt Isnardi played solid in goal for the victorious Massapequa team.

"I'm really excited about playing at a new field," said the winning goaltender.

Also starring for the Massapequa team were midfielders Joe Walsh, Dan Kleinfelder, and Joe White as well as defenseman Brian McDonald. White is a face-off specialist who takes all of the teams face-offs and won all of them in this contest.

"I'm happy to beat them because they are our rivals," said White of his team's victory. Also showing the optimism that goes with opening day, he added," Hopefully, we will win the championship."

All of the players said they were very excited to be playing again. Their coach, Gene Isnardis, also expressed excitement about the new league and the kids playing with regular lacrosse rules.

So, for the next few months, people traveling on Old Sunrise Highway that pass the Field of Dreams are likely to see a game going on. It's a sure sign that spring has arrived in Massapequa, no matter what the weather is.

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