Mepham Pirates

from Lacrosse Preview 04-14-2022

by Richner Communications, Inc

West Hempstead Rams

MEPHAM

Pirates in search of playoff win

By DAVID WEINGRAD

An 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 fi rst 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 backfi eld 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 effi cient, 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 fi nd the right chemistry. But they certainly aren’t lacking in athleticism. Leading the midfi eld 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 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.

“Defensively we’re ahead of where we want to be,” Mazeika said. “As long as we can manage the game offensively and be effi cient, we’ll inexperience on offense, Mazeika said they will aspire for a more controlled style of play, while mixing and matching combinations to fi nd the right chemistry. But they certainly aren’t lacking in athleticism. Leading the midfi eld 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 with freshman Grace Skulavic, a physical player with a hard shot who impressed the coaching staff

Mepham has infl ux 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 excels at not only creating scoring opportunities for herscoring opportunities for herself, but also setting up teammates self, but also setting up teammates for success. “She has great vision for success. “She has great vision for the game,” said coach Kristen for the game,” said coach Kristen Mogavero, who played lacrosse Mogavero, who played lacrosse at Boston University. “She knows at Boston University. “She knows where to be, knows what looks to where to be, knows what looks to go for. She’s really the heart of the go for. She’s really the heart of the team.” Midfi elder Jenna Dempsey, a Midfi elder Jenna Dempsey, a varsity player since eighth grade varsity player since eighth grade who earned All-Conference last who earned All-Conference last year, is already a wily veteran as a year, is already a wily veteran as a sophomore. She’ll be the anchor sophomore. She’ll be the anchor of the midfi eld, said Mogavero, of the midfi eld, said Mogavero, lauding her quickness and ball lauding her quickness and ball handling skills that make her a 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. in tryouts. Junior Madison Weber is the lone returner on defense and the lone returner on defense and will step into a leadership role. will step into a leadership role.

“She’s our go-to person when “She’s our go-to person when there’s a shooter on the other there’s a shooter on the other team,” Mogavero said. team,” Mogavero said. In goal, sophomore In goal, sophomore Catherine Chow Catherine Chow showed vast improveshowed vast improvement throughout her ment throughout her freshman year and freshman year and was a standout in was a standout in camp. “She’s beating camp. “She’s beating out some of our midout some of our midfi elders and attackers in fi elders and attackers in sprints,” her coach said. sprints,” her coach said. If the team continues its ascent, continues its ascent, Mogavero said a run Mogavero said a run at taking Conferat taking Conference III is not ence III is not out of the out of the quesques-

Kaitlyn Smith

tion, adding, “I feel pretty confi dent that they’re going to be a very that they’re going to be a very resilient team and very hungry for resilient team and very hungry for opportunities, especially because we opportunities, especially because we have that youth out there,” she said. have that youth out there,” she said.