Marnie Adonizio is preparing the Pittston Area field hockey team in her first season as head coach after taking over for Kate Connors, who resigned.
The varsity head coaching job is the second for Adonizio, but first within the district where she is a middle school teacher and has spent 10 years coaching junior high track and another coaching junior high field hockey.
Adonizio played field hockey at Holy Redeemer and West Chester University. She served as head coach for one season at Nanticoke and also spent time as an assistant coach at Misericordia University.
“Obviously, it’s difficult when you come in after a coach that has been there for so long,” Adonizio said. “A lot of the kids know her and a lot of the kids know what she expects. It’s hard to just barge right in and implement your own routine in that respect.
“I do think my assistant Abby Wruble and I — she played in college and played in high school and has coached within Pittston Area field hockey — bring a lot of field hockey knowledge from our own experiences. You just hope that the team is open and receptive to that.”
Adonizio welcomes a team that returns five seniors and two juniors who started a year ago. The team’s six freshmen may be responsible for filling the bulk of the openings.
Pittston Area went 11-3 last season and tied for second in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2. The Patriots reached the District 2-4 Class 2A Subregional semifinals and finished 12-8 overall.
Karlie Podwika returns in goal. The other seniors returning are defenders Jenna Zaladonis and Callie Shannon and midfielders Guiliana Latona and Angie Stucco.
Forward Lola Serino and defender Grace Wolfe are the juniors who return to the lineup.
Pittston Area opens Saturday at home against defending District 2 Class 3A champion Wyoming Valley West, then begins its WVC season at Wallenpaupack Aug. 28.
