With his team currently in its summer conditioning program, East Haven girls’ soccer Head Coach Jake Hackett said that this year’s squad looks prepared for the upcoming season. The Yellowjackets enter the year featuring numerous returning players who are determined to prove just how strong the Easties’ program can be.

East Haven is in preparation for the preseason, which begins on Thursday, Aug. 25. The Yellowjackets have a scrimmage with Hand and West Haven on Thursday,

Sept. 1 and will then host Branford for their season opener on Thursday, Sept. 8, followed by a home game against North Haven on Saturday, Sept. 10.

East Haven is coming off of a season that saw the team finish with an overall record of 6-9-1 on its way to qualifying for the Class L State Tournament. Coach Hackett said that his athletes are eager for their first competitive action and ready to get back to work in the quest to make the playoffs.

“We’re in our preseason conditioning. We’re looking pretty good. The girls seem focused. They seem ready. They seem like they want to get into the season as quickly as we can,” Coach Hackett said. “They want to get to a point where we’re competitive and become a strong team like we have been. They’re focused and willing to put in the work.”

The Yellowjackets’ captains for the 2022 season are Gabby Gaetano, Sydney Herard, and Gianna Mendez. Coach Hackett said that Gaetano has filled multiple roles for the Easties and become a leader both on and off the field. Herard has been a dominant midfielder during her time at East Haven. Hackett said that Herard helps dictate the pace of play while controlling the game on offense and defense. Mendez is an offensive force for East Haven, earning All-SCC Second Team honors during her junior campaign. Hackett called Mendez a “special talent” and feels that she has the potential to have a standout senior season.

All three captains have been vital members of the East Haven girls’ soccer program since their freshman years. Coach Hackett said that he’s pleased to see how this year’s group has grown as leaders and excited to see how they finish their careers with the Yellowjackets.

“All three have been varsity starters since they were freshmen. They have done a huge amount of work in this program,” said Hackett. “All three of them have great things that they bring to the table. All three of them are poised to have a strong campaign.”

Mendez is the leader of East Haven’s attack, and Coach Hackett said that opposing teams always have to keep an eye on her when she’s on the field. When she isn’t scoring, Mendez does a great job of creating scoring chances.

Mendez is joined on the attack by Gaetano, who is a predominantly an outside midfielder. Coach Hackett said that Gaetano is a great passer who is ready take a step up and be a focal point on offense for East Haven. Hackett added that junior midfielder Gianna Castellano has grown with every year that she’s been in the program.

Coach Hackett also expects East Haven to receive solid contributions in the midfield from junior Natalie Brown and sophomore Hannah Dudley. Hackett said that Brown was a supporting character last year and is now ready to take the next step. Dudley started on defense last season, but will be moving into a midfield role this year. Hackett said that Dudley showed she belonged on the varsity field as a freshman and is making a strong argument that she could be a major player again in her sophomore campaign.

East Haven graduated four seniors from last year’s team, and three of them played on the defensive side of the field. Coach Hackett said that he expects numerous players to step up and play bigger roles on defense this year. No matter who steps up, Hackett knows that junior Valerie Sortito will be the leader of the defensive corps who will help control the Easties’ backfield.

“Valerie Sortito has been a great role player for us. This year, she is ready to step up and be the leader for us back there,” Hackett said. “We’re not 100-percent set on who our defenders are, but I can definitely say Valerie will be the vocal leader on the backline. Valerie will be a huge part of it.”

East Haven will see the return of junior Seralyn Lendroth as its goalkeeper. Lendroth was the varsity backup in her freshman year and became the varsity starter as a sophomore last season. Coach Hackett recalled some of Lendroth’s stronger performances from last season, including one where she was the catalyst of a 2-0 home win over West Haven. After watching Lendroth improve over the summer, Hackett is expecting her to have a solid season in net.

“For a sophomore goalkeeper, there were some games last year where she put on absolute top-class performances,” said Hackett. “I’ve seen the work she has put in during the offseason to become the best player she could be. Now as a junior, she feels it’s more a leadership thing for her. I think she is going to have a great season.”

Coach Hackett said that this year’s team is focused on playing the style of soccer that East Haven has become known for over the past few seasons. The Yellowjackets understand what they’re up against while competing in the Southern Connecticut Conference. In order to deal with that challenge, Hackett said the Easties are prepared to put in gritty performances and use their quality conditioning to wear down their opponents.

“Being smaller than most of the teams we play, we grind things out. We’ve outlasted a lot of our opponents. We’ve put in so much work during conditioning, we are able to outlast them,” Hackett said. “We’ve always played a smart and physical game. We like to keep the ball. We like to hold onto it and keep it moving. Being gritty, determined, and being hard workers has been big factors of success in our program and has been the brand of East Haven soccer.”

East Haven is on a streak of making the State Tournament in each of the past four seasons. As his team plays through the 2022 campaign, Coach Hackett said that the Yellowjackets want to advance in both postseason tournaments and keep working hard to demonstrate how East Haven has become a strong girls’ soccer program.

“We gauge our success if we’re making the State Tournament. We’ve achieved that goal. The other goal is to play in the SCC Tournament,” said Hackett. “We hope to put together enough wins to be in both tournaments. Once we get there, anything goes. Either way, we are going to put in the work and try our best.”