2022 HERALD High School Lacrosse Preview
LYNBROOK Experienced Owls aim to improve By BRIAN KACHARABA
can kick it into gear a little bit.” Meszaros had 24 goals and four hat tricks last year, including a season-high four in a 6-5 win over he Lynbrook boys’ lacrosse Oceanside in the regular-season fiteam will field a more expe- nale, while Fagan added 21. Junior rienced lineup than the one Max Dantona had the third-most that went 4-9 a year ago, but will goals on the team with eight and that translate into more goals? is poised for a big year by getting The Owls averaged just over “bigger and stronger and faster,” six goals a game in 2021 and fell a according to Leighley. tally short in a 7-6 loss to WheatDefensively, Lynbrook averley/Carle Place in the first round aged just over 10 goals allowed of the Nassau Class C playoffs. a game and limited its foes to 10 Only two players – senior Christian tallies or less seven times last seaMeszaros and junior Michael son. Senior goalie Collin Lung got Fagan – reached double-digits in the bulk of the playing time and goals last spring and both return to Leighley is also bullish on junior the lineup. Jake Lunati. “We were a little bit inexperi“Defensively, we’re hoping enced on offense last year,” coach to hold it down,” he said. “We’ve Bill Leighley said. “We were trying got two very good goalies. We’re to do different things with what hoping that they can be very good we had, and I think those guys leaders on the defensive end and that we got back from last limit teams from scoring.” year’s team have a Leighley is also expecting lot more experience strong seasons from senior so hopefully they midfielder Tyler Ippolito and his defensive tandem of junior Sean O’Brien and senior Brandon Torres. The Owls face a manageable conference schedule that also features a trip to Manhasset to meet the top-seeded team in the entire county.
T
Christian Meszaros
30 — April 14, 2022
will likely use the same formula in hopes of getting deep into the playoffs again this season despite losing several key players to graduation. The offense averaged 14 goals last spring and reached double digits in all 15 games but will have to try to do so without 55-goal scorer Jenna Hendrickson. Steady midfielder Maggie Bodian, defensive anchor Camilla Bahri and starting goalie Madison Marchetta are also gone, leaving plenty of other holes to fill. “We have two of our corner piece scorers coming back, so on the offensive side of the ball we’re looking good,” coach Vin Treto said. “[It will be] a similar formula. We’re going to focus heavily on the defensive side of the ball.” Juniors Mimi Berkowitz (41 goals, 23 assists) and Sara Curley (38-18) will now lead the attack. Berkowitz scored the tiebreaking goal with 51 seconds left to help the Owls win their quarterfinal match at North Shore, while Curley scored a combined 11 goals in back-to-back close wins over Friends Academy (May 29) and Locust Valley (June 2). “Their chemistry is phenomenal,” Tetro said. “They started every game together last year, so they’re coming back together with that 41 goals and 38 goals on the right said of my attack.” Tetro is looking for midfielders Caityblu Cavassa, Kaelynn O’Brien and Kyla Nembach to get them the ball. Cavassa had 18 goals and is strong on faceoffs, while O’Brien and Nembach have developed a nice chemistry together. Lynbrook After that, there are concerns. looks to keep Tetro has yet to determine his offense starters on defense at press time cranking and senior, but inexperienced, Drue Lynbrook’s girls’ team won 11 Marchetta will likely get the first games and advanced to the Class crack at replacing her older sister in goal. C semifinals in 2021 thanks to a strong offense that had to do a little extra to make up for an inexperienced defense. The Owls HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PREVIEW
Grace Bodian
Conference Schedules April
BOYS
12 22 27
@ Kennedy MacArthur Great Neck South
4:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
4 6 11 13 17
@ Jericho Roslyn Carey @ Garden City @ Calhoun
5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m.
May
March
GIRLS
29
Plainedge
1 6 9 12 23 27
@ Wantagh @ Manhasset @ Seaford Malv-East Rock. @ Island Trees Bethpage
4 7 10 13 18
Floral Park @ Friends Academy @ C.S. Harbor Locust Valley South Side
April
May
4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m.
Photos by Keith O’Reilly
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