2022 HERALD High School Lacrosse Preview
CAREY Seahawks fresh off finals trip By GARRETT D. URIBE
T
he Seahawks’ 2021 season will be a hard act to follow. Having gone a combined 10-23 its two previous seasons in Nassau Conference B1 boys’ lacrosse, Carey – which finished 8-5 in B1, 9-6 overall – mounted a late-season 6-1 push to reach the Class B title game last spring, the dark-horse Seahawks finally falling 11-8 to eventual Long Island Class B champion Garden City. With league scoring leader Jimmy O’Connell now wielding his crosse at Boston University, fellow All-County attackman Dean Meztger – 10th in Nassau with 21 assists – steps to the fore of Carey’s offense as the Seahawks attempt an encore in B1. Fellow senior Kyle Lewis, an Honorable Mention All-County selection, joins Metzger in heading Carey’s attack – which, powered chiefly by O’Connell and Metzger, produced B1’s second-highest goal total. “Those two guys (Metzger and Lewis) will get lots of attention from defenders,” said coach Tom Aiello, now in his 22nd season at Carey. “Dean’s one of the top guys in the county. Kyle’s athleticism is off the charts. But they’ll have to be able to work together to get opportunities,” Senior midfielder Ray Bedeian is tapped to facilitate said opportunities as Carey’s faceoff specialist. Bedeian – sidelined by injury last season – returns from a two-year absence to the Seahawks’ s starting lineup, having started as a freshman in 2019 before COVID forced spring sports cancellation in 2020, while senior Jaden McLeod, a proven close defender, makes his starting debut for Carey. In the cage Carey’s immediate, 10 — April 14, 2022
and not inconsiderable, task is to replace its graduated goalkeeping tandem of Anthony Lucsczynski (.700 save percentage) and Matt Mantone (.680). Dean’s freshman brother Rich Metzger and junior Gianluca Magliaro – both first-year varsity members – will platoon in goal for Carey at the outset. “We’re a little inexperienced,” Aiello said. “But, like always, we’ll have to play tough and get better as the year goes on.”
ic-caused spring sports hiatus, took effect only last season, when All-County 2019 junior standouts like Kelly-Ann McGrath (No. 2 in Nassau with 114 points) and Vanessa Tortorella (second in Nassau with a .560 save percentage) had long since left the Seahawks and matriculated into college. Goalkeeper Grace Carrizo was valiant posting 103 saves last Carey returns to season in earning All-Conference ideal conference honors. The senior goalie returns Discontinuity doomed the as Carey regroups and attempts to Seahawks in Conference 3 girls’ capitalize on its fresh reassignment lacrosse last spring, when Carey to more amenable Conference 4. (1-11) narrowly avoided a season “We’ve dropped a conference shutout by outlasting Oyster Bay and hope now to be competitive,” 11-10 in its finale. said coach Steve Savino. “Last year In capturing 2019’s Conferwe were basically seeded wrongly, ence 4 crown, Carey earned an based on two years prior. We’d had automatic league promotion for 2020 – which, due to the pandem- some excellent players and were in a lower conference. This year we’re going back fundamentals.” A defensive starter last season, Natalia Dominguez switches to Carey’s first-string attack, joining fellow second year-starting
Faith Anderson Savino said. “She’s very good on the draw for us, too. Ava sees the field well and can dish the ball and feed other players.” Added Savino: “The girls have worked very hard. We’re really emphasizing skills, and just looking to improve every day.”
Conference Schedules April
BOYS
7 13 23 27
Roslyn @ Baldwin Herricks Glen Cove
4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
3 6 11 14 17
Garden City @ Calhoun @ Long Beach @ MacArthur Mepham
4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
May
Dean Metzger
senior Victoria Dallas (12 goals, two assists). “Natalia’s got good stick skills,” Savino said. “She handles the ball well, both right and left. Victoria’s very strong, with a very good move to the crease. She shoots very, very hard.” Junior Faith Anderson is a second-year starter at midfield for Carey, while Seahawks senior Ava Pelzer starts her first season at middie. “Faith is a great transition player,”
HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PREVIEW
March
GIRLS
31
@ New Hyde Park
4 9 11 20 25 28
Baldwin @ Hicksville Roslyn @ Island Trees @ Herricks Kennedy
5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m.
2 5 7
@ Wheatley Clarke Jericho
6:30 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 11:00 a.m.
April
May
4:45 p.m.
Photos by Donovan Berthoud
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