Graziano, Lynch total 9 in NHP win
New Hyde Park's Jillian Graziano launches a shot for the score. (March 29, 2012) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Things went awry for New Hyde Park Thursday. In a performance so atypical of what's become their norm, the Gladiators were barely recognizable.
Kristen Lynch and Jillian Graziano totaled only nine goals.
Sure, New Hyde Park defeated Jericho, 15-8, in their Nassau Conference III girls lacrosse matchup, but this was a still a stunning development. "They played really good defense," Lynch said of Jericho. "They were doubling us and making it a little tougher to operate."
Give the Jayhawks credit -- they did the best job of anyone thus far in defending the Gladiators' stars.
Graziano, Long Island's leading scorer with 48 points, had a mere five goals and four assists. Lynch, third in points, had just four goals and two assists. What gives?
We kid.
But it's quite a standard they've set. This was a 60-watt performance for the light-it-up girls, but one more than adequate as New Hyde Park (4-0) dominated.
"What's great is that it's not just us doing it," said Graziano, who totaled 11 points in each of her previous two games. "The entire team is getting points and doing stuff that's not in the stats."
Kristen Korzevinski, for example, scored three goals but didn't register an assist. But winning 14 draws and giving extra possessions to this offense is essentially a feed.
Emma McGrath and Madison Cascio each added a goal and an assist. The Gladiators defense and Devon DeSanna (five saves) held Jericho in check.
Sydney Adler had three goals, Naomi Albinder two, and Jillian Silverman made five saves for Jericho (0-4).
Lynch snagged a high pass from Graziano (with the "go-go Gadget arms" in coach Lorin Wirth's words) and scored with a sidearm sling to give New Hyde Park a 5-4 lead with 10:01 left in the first half. Graziano followed with two goals as the Gladiators took control.
"Playing with [Lynch] makes everything easier for me," Graziano said. "She sees the field so well and knows how to score."
And Lynch: "When I've got the ball, I'm always looking for [Graziano] because she can pass and definitely knows how to score."
Yeah, the tally tandem is most certainly in synch. Even with an "off" game.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
