Comeback win huge for Hewlett

By maRc BeRmaN sports@liherald.com

Last Friday’s huge 11-9 home victory over Mineola has the Hewlett boys ‘lacrosse team feeling good about its playoff hopes.

JUlia paRise

East Meadow Junior Softball paRise aND the Jets have their sights set on the Nassau Class AA championship after finishing runners-up last spring. Parise was Honorable Mention

All-County as a sophomore pitcher in 2022 and appears to be peaking at the right time as East Meadow makes its push. Over a four-game stretch between April 15-22, she posted three shutouts and struck out at least 10 opponents three times, lowering her ERA to 0.91.

Games To Watch

thursday, may 4

Baseball: Hewlett at V.S. North 4:30 p.m.

Baseball: Floral Park at Carey 4:30 p.m.

Softball: Freeport at North Shore 4:30 p.m.

Baseball: Mineola at Clarke 4:45 p.m.

Baseball: East Meadow at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Baseball: MacArthur at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Baseball: Lawrence at Elmont 5 p.m.

Baseball: Roslyn at South Side 5 p.m.

Baseball: Sewanhaka at Kennedy 5 p.m.

Baseball: Wantagh at North Shore 5 p.m.

Baseball: West Hempstead at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Lynbrook at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Friday, may 5

Boys Lacrosse: Carey at Malverne/East Rock 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Long Beach at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at South Side 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Wantagh at Massapequa 5 p.m.

Softball: Oceanside at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Softball: Malverne at V.S. Central 5 p.m.

Softball: Wantagh at Herricks 5 p.m.

Softball: Island Trees at Seaford 5 p.m.

Softball: Roosevelt at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Softball: Calhoun at Clarke 5 p.m.

Flag Football: West Hempstead at Long Beach 7 p.m.

After trailing 6-4 at halftime, Hewlett avenged last season’s overtime heartbreaker against the Mustangs by rallying late to even its record at 5-5. The most significant element to the victory – in addition to the continued emergence of sophomore goalie star Daniel Lankri - was contributions from unlikely sources.

That will be key for the Bulldogs to continue their special spring. Their top two guns, seniors Ryan Goodman and Max Mariasch, need assistance.

At 3-1 in Conference C and upstart Clarke on tap Wednesday, after press time, Hewlett hasn’t locked up a playoff berth. But a recent giant win over Floral Park, 7-4, bodes well for the senior-laden squad.

“We need additional players besides Max and Ryan,’’ Hewlett coach Dale Pescitelli said. “They’re going to get most of the points. But we had a couple of guys step up versus Mineola. We need secondary role players to step up to help our top two guys.’’

Against Mineola, freshman Stephano Borsellino scored his first goal of the season, John Cusumano added two goals, and Ryan Rovner and Trevor Auerbach one apiece. Meanwhile, Goodman-Mariasch are on a mission after both felt slighted in the awards department last season. Goodman made All-Conference but felt he had an All-County season. Mariasch netted Honorable Mention for All-County.

They certainly will get top accolades this season. In his last five games, Goodman, committed to Quinnipiac, has 21 goals and 5 assists.

“He wants to show what he can do,’’ Pescitelli said.

Against Mineola, Mariasch recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. He has 15 goals and 18 assists – a total that would be larger had he not missed two games with a hamstring injury.

The Bulldogs’ backbone, though, is in goal with Lankri, who made 10 saves against Mineola. He’s had 25 saves in the past two games – some of them spectacular.

“He has been outstanding,’’ Pescitelli said. “He’s only a sophomore. His stopping ability is tremendous.’’

The young goalie sill is learning the craft. Lankri only started playing goalie two years ago as an 8th grader. The coach said he needs to “be better at clearing the ball and making better decisions when he has the ball on his stick. But his stopping ability is second to none.’’

Hewlett’s defense features a tightpacking zone that protects close-in areas and allows long shots. It has worked with Hewlett giving up double-digit goals just once.

The central defender is senior Ian Fleurant, who plays at the top of the zone as defensive anchor. Senior Matteo Peziosi has also been invaluable on D. “They do a fantastic job of keeping guys at bay,’’

Pescitelli said.

There’s been another fabulous performer who flies under the radar because he’s not a goal-scorer. That is junior faceoff man Luke Rochler, who won 17 of 21 faceoffs against Mineola. Some teams employ a “FOGO’’ specialist who takes faceoffs, then goes off the field.

“I call him my FOSO,’’ Pescitelli said. “He takes faceoffs and stays on.’’ Rochler also plays basketball and football, making him a rare three-sport performer. “He’s huge for us, doing a fantastic job,’’ Pescitelli said.

Hewlett’s season seems to only be growing. “We started off in a way not as a family,’’ Pescitelli said. “The more things we do together is good for team bonding and team building. We’re starting to believe in each other and trusting one another, trusting the coaches and what we have to say. In one word, I’d say it’s “trust”.’’