2022 HERALD High School Lacrosse Preview
MEPHAM Pirates in search of playoff win By DAVID WEINGRAD
A
n elite defensive unit and an up-and-coming offense has Pirates coach Tom Mazeika excited that this may be the squad that lifts the school to its first playoff win in nearly two decades. Led by senior Danny Fitzgerald, the Pirates will look to grind out games by limiting opponents’ opportunities, and aggressively transitioning from defense to offense to generate their own. Fitzgerald, who Mazeika said had a strong lacrosse I.Q. and excels at picking up loose balls, will be a big part of that strategy. He’ll be joined in the backfield by junior Kevin Perry, a physically daunting 6-foot-5 defender, and sophomore Mitch Savalli, a cerebral defender who is a vocal leader on the defensive end. “Defensively we’re ahead of where we want to be,” Mazeika said. “As long as we can manage the game offensively and be efficient, we’ll be able to match up well.” With a bit more inexperience on offense, Mazeika said they will aspire for a more controlled style of play, while mixing and matching combinations to find the right chemistry. But they certainly aren’t lacking in athleticism. Leading the midfield will be senior Nick Honerkamp, a strong, speedy twoway player who’s also the starting quarterback of the football team. Up front, sophomore Liam Williams has made major strides since his freshman year, said Mazeika, lauding his work ethic and fundamentals. “At Mepham we talk a lot about doing the dirty work,” he said. “He’s a dirty work kind of guy.” A potential breakout star 34 — April 14, 2022
is freshman Owen Heller, who played varsity as an eighth grader and utilizes his six-foot-two frame with a blistering outside shot. While a playoff spot remains the goal, Mazeika reiterated a deeper run isn’t out of the question. “I think we have a lot of potential with this group,“ he said.
Mepham has influx of young talent A Pirates squad loaded with young talent will look to continue its growth this spring, and perhaps make some noise atop the competitive Conference III. Several freshman and sophomores will crack the opening day lineup and will be expected to play a major role alongside Mepham’s top attacker, senior Kaitlyn Smith. Smith, who earned an All-County honorable mention a
Danny Fitzgerald
season ago and will play at Marywood University in Scranton in the fall, excels at not only creating scoring opportunities for herself, but also setting up teammates for success. “She has great vision for the game,” said coach Kristen Mogavero, who played lacrosse at Boston University. “She knows where to be, knows what looks to go for. She’s really the heart of the team.” Midfielder Jenna Dempsey, a varsity player since eighth grade who earned All-Conference last year, is already a wily veteran as a sophomore. She’ll be the anchor of the midfield, said Mogavero, lauding her quickness and ball handling skills that make her a matchup nightmare for opponents. She’ll form a dynamic duo with freshman Grace Skulavic, a physical player with a hard shot who impressed the coaching staff in tryouts. Junior Madison Weber is the lone returner on defense and will step into a leadership role. “She’s our go-to person when there’s a shooter on the other team,” Mogavero said. In goal, sophomore Catherine Chow showed vast improvement throughout her freshman year and was a standout in camp. “She’s beating out some of our midfielders and attackers in sprints,” her coach said. If the team continues its ascent, Mogavero said a run at taking Conference III is not out of the ques-
Kaitlyn Smith
tion, adding, “I feel pretty confident that they’re going to be a very resilient team and very hungry for opportunities, especially because we have that youth out there,” she said.
Conference Schedules April
BOYS
4 8 13 22 27
Kennedy @ Jericho Calhoun Glen Cove @ Garden City
4 6 11 14 17
Elmont @ Baldwin @ Herricks @ New Hyde Park @ Carey
May
March
4:45 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
GIRLS
25 30
@ Plainview MacArthur
4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
2 5 13 27
@ Hewlett Division @ Oyster Bay Mineola
2:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
2 6
@ Floral Park East Meadow
4:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m.
April May
Photos by Ron Manfredi
HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PREVIEW
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
