Enchance Skills
Build Self Confidence
Provide a Gateway to Leadership
Nurture a Love for the Game
Medusa Athletics
Lacrosse & Field Hockey
Hunter Bracale – Co-Director of Medusa Field Hockey
Duke University Field Hockey Alumna
Coach Hunter is a graduate of Duke University, class of 2017 where she was a member of the Division 1 Duke University field hockey team. Coach Hunter is the co-director of the Medusa Field Hockey program. While at Duke she competed in two Finals Fours, and achieved National finalists in 2013. In her junior and senior year at Duke University, Hunter was awarded All Region and ACC accolades. Hunter is a native from Hershey, PA where she was a 4 year varsity starter at Lower Duaphin HS, leading her team to 2 state championships and earning All America honors 3 years in a row. Hunter earned player of the year in Pennsylvania her senior year.
Antonia Palmeri - Co-Director Medusa Lacrosse Program
Villanova University Alumna and Garden City Native
Currently, Antonia is co-directing the Long Island branch of our Little Laxers program. One of Medusa's original players, Coach Antonia has been with the program from the start. A Garden City high school alumna, she was a member of the state finalist field hockey team and lacrosse team. Antonia continued her athletic career at Villanova University, where she played club lacrosse. During her time at Villanova, Antonia coached various middle school and high school teams. In her senior year, she led Harriton High School varsity team to a state championship. She is now an 8th grade teacher in New York City with a masters degree in special education.
Medusa Lacrosse & Field Hockey was founded in 2011 by Jackie Spratt - Boston College Lacrosse Alumna & Garden City High School Native
MEET OUR STAFF BELOWW
Maddy Conklin - Cornell University Field Hockey Alumna & North Shore Native
Madalyn Conklin served as the head coach of Cold Spring Harbor Middle School for 2020 and 2021 seasons. As a player, Conklin enjoyed a successful playing career at Cornell University. A four-year starter for the Big Red, she served as a captain her senior season. She earned First-Team All-Ivy League, All-Academic All-Ivy, Synapse Sports Third Team All-America, Longstreth/NFHCA First Team All-Mideast Region as a senior (2019). She earned Second-Team All-Ivy League as a junior (2018) and Honorable Mention All-Ivy as a sophomore (2017). After Cornell, Conklin continued her field hockey career and studies at Swansea University (2020). Conklin competed for Swansea Hockey Club in the English Premier League. She also played in the BUCS South Premier Division which has consistently proven to be the best university hockey club in Wales.
Nikki Sliwak – Maryland University & Wantagh Lax Alumna
Coach Nikki was apart of the number one recruiting class for 2016 women's college lacrosse. She played four years at Maryland University
from 2016 - 2020. In that time, Coach Nikki became a two-time National Champion, two-time Big Ten Champion, four-time Conference Champion, and two-time All-Big Ten Scholar. Coach Nikki continued her lacrosse career by taking a 5th year at Towson University where she was first on the team
with assists & second on the team with points during her 2021 season.
Nikki is currently attending Hofstra University for a master's in occupational therapy.
Kaelin O'Brien - Cortland University Field Hockey Alumna & Carle Place Native
Kaelin is a Carle Place native where she enjoyed 4 years as a varsity member along with six years of travel field hockey with the Strong Island Field Hockey Program. Kaelin was awarded with the title of captain of the field hockey team at Suny Cortland during her senior year. She graduated Cortland with a bachelors degree in mathematics and decided to attend Touro College to receive her masters in Math Education. Kaelin is currently the field hockey coach at Carle Place Middle School.
Gabby Abrams - SUNY Oneota Field Hockey Alumna & Smithtown Native
Gabby is a graduate of Smithtown High School where she was a member of the varsity field hockey team for 4 years. She continued her involvement by playing for the SUNY Oneonta women's club Field Hockey team during her time there. Gabby is currently Head Coach of the Manhasset
Middle School Field Hockey team. She is an enthusatic coach involved in PAL and our learners clinics!
Lauren Nagy - Adelphi University Field Hockey Alumna & Carle Place Native
Lauren is a Carle Place native and Adelphi University field hockey alumna. Lauren played 5 years for the Adelphi program. During those 5 years Lauren was captain of the team in her senior year and led her team to become NE10 and NCAA qualifiers in the 2021 season.
Lauren is currently the assistant
Varsity Field Hockey Coach at
Carle Place HS. She teaches as
a social studies teacher at Floral
Park Memorial High School.
Elissa Frein - Adelphi University Field Hockey Alumna & Carle Place Native
Elissa is a 2016 Carle Place graduate. She played 4 years of varsity field hockey & lacrosse. She graduated from Adelphi University in 2020 where she played four years of collegiate field hockey earning All-American honors. After graduation, she stayed close to the Adelphi field hockey
program as an assistant coach for 2 years.
Currently, Coach Elissa is the
Head Varsity Field Hockey &
Varsity Lacrosse Coach at
Carle Place High School and
teaches speech pathology.
