Majorana, Manhasset rout Conn. powerhouse
Halle Majorana, right, had five goals and six assists as Manhasset defeated Connecticut powerhouse Darien on Monday. Credit: Lee S. Weissman, file
A tough tilt against an out-of-town opponent with a big reputation and the resume to match . . . is what Halle Majorana expected.
"We thought for sure it was going to be really close," the junior attack said, sounding genuinely surprised.
Alas, Majorana was the biggest contributor to the score -- 19-9 -- being lopsided, lighting it up with five goals and six assists as Manhasset coasted Monday. But here's the thing: They did it against Darien. Yeah, that Darien, the Connecticut lacrosse powerhouse that has won four of the last five state titles. "We were on the same page," Majorana said, "and a lot of things went well for us."
That's an understatement.
"They're a great program," said Darien coach Lisa Lindley, who has a relatively young roster this year. "We were a step slow and they beat us to every ball."
Majorana gave Manhasset (8-2) the lead 1:11 in on a do-it-all sequence, jarring the ball loose at midfield, scooping it and outrunning the pack for a breakaway goal. The All-American had four assists in the second half, mostly on whip passes to cutting teammates inside the arc, but set the tone early with four goals, two rifle shots from the corners, about 15 yards out.
Majorana acknowledged they're typically low-percentage shots that "Coach [Danielle Gallagher] hates," but when it works, it works.
Cathryn Avallone erupted for five goals and her score with 10:36 left in the first half, off a one-timer from her sister Charlotte, put the Indians up 7-1.
"Hopefully, I can bring that every game," said Cathryn Avallone, who admitted she's sometimes passive on offense. "It's great, especially against a team we haven't seen. We had just heard they're good."
Jenny Vlahos added two goals and three assists, Morgan Molinari, Sarah Barcia and Julia Glynn each scored twice, and Grace Morelli made nine saves. Dillon Schoen had three goals for Darien.
Manhasset's defense dominated, too, holding the Blue Wave to three first-half goals before the offense put the game out of reach.
The Indians have won four straight now, including an impressive victory Saturday over Chatham (N.J.). And they've done it despite the loss of All-American Kerri Fleishhacker, who has been out two weeks with an ankle injury.
"We feel good about how things are going," defender Meg Markham said, "but we still have to try harder and get better."
They won't all be easy like Monday morning.
'They have plenty of time to get him if they want to' NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa sat down with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. to discuss what it was like holding the Gilgo Beach serial killer in custody, Heuermann's penchant for Jack the Ripper and what his future likely looks like in state prison.
'They have plenty of time to get him if they want to' NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa sat down with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. to discuss what it was like holding the Gilgo Beach serial killer in custody, Heuermann's penchant for Jack the Ripper and what his future likely looks like in state prison.
