It’s the beginning of a new era for the Pine Bush field hockey team.

With the retirement of longtime coach Lisa Sorrentino, long credited with bringing the sport to Pine Bush, there will be a new face on the Bushmen’s bench this fall.

Samantha Schwartz takes over a Pine Bush team that posted a 5-8-1 record but earned a berth in the Section 9 Class A championship game but suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat to Kingston in the championship game.

“I am very excited to be part of the Pine Bush field hockey program,” Schwartz said. “It is my goal to lead a successful team of student athletes and to grow interest in the sport in our area.”

She’ll have to do that without Jenny Sorrentino, the Bushmen’s leader on the field for the last several seasons. Alina Zanetti also has graduated off the Bushmen’s roster.

The Bushmen will return goalkeeper Grace Grant, midfielder Tristan Myers and forward Kara Wittenberg. New to the team this year will be forward Rebecca Edwards and midfielder/forward Jaslenne Ingenito.

“We are looking forward to developing a young team with the leadership from experienced returners,” Schwartz said. “We have a motivated team with a goal of winning the Section 9 title.”