Tess Calabria scores six goals as St. Anthony's girls lacrosse proves it's worthy of No. 1 national ranking

There was St. Anthony’s racing down the field after the draw and there was Tess Calabria scoring, 10 seconds after this Gains for Brains game started. The nation’s No. 1-ranked girls lacrosse team had announced its presence quickly and loudly.

Calabria went on to show Summit from New Jersey why she’s bound for the University of North Carolina, and the undefeated Friars went on to show why the USA Lacrosse rankings have them at the summit.

They beat the 16th-ranked Hilltoppers, 9-2, on Saturday as part of the 20-team Gains for Brains charity event at Cold Spring Harbor.

And the four-time defending CHSAA AA state champs did it behind six goals and one assist from Calabria, one goal and four assists from fellow senior attack Brooke Long and the group’s superior play all over the field.

This team, loaded with 31 Division I commits, is up to 12-0.

“We’re really happy with our No. 1 ranking right now, but we know it doesn’t matter until the end of the season,” Calabria said. “So we’re treating every game like it’s our last. We’re just playing the next one in front of us as the most important.”

This one had an important cause attached.

The Gains for Brains games benefit the Making Headway Foundation. The money goes toward caring for children with brain and spinal cord tumors, assisting their families and furthering research.

“I always tell my girls that life is bigger than lacrosse,” said Darcy Messina, a former Friars player who’s in her first season as their head coach. “Certainly, they know that in more ways than one. Even yesterday, I shared with them a Kobe Bryant video and I believe that really hit close to home.

“A lot of these girls have so much stuff going on behind the scenes and I think it’s important to refresh their memories that life is bigger than lacrosse. Certainly, this beautiful event today shows that.”

By the time 1:11 had passed, the Hilltoppers (7-3) trailed 2-0. Calabria fed Long for a close-range goal.

“We just have fun together,” said Long, who’s a Penn State commit. “We have a lot of different sets we can work … I like working with Tess a lot.”

By halftime, St. Anthony’s led 6-2 and Calabria had three more goals.

“She’s insanely coachable,” Messina said. “She’s a leader. She respects the game. She respects her teammates.”

The Friars made it 8-2 after Calabria scored twice off Long assists in the third.

In the fourth, Long fed Megan Kenny for her second goal.

“I think they’re really solid all around,” Summit coach Mike Walsh said. “They don’t make a lot of mistakes, really disciplined. There’s nothing not to like about them as a team, honestly.”