Playing for Keira: Girls lax rallies for first-grader

Port Washington's Wednesday afternoon match-up against Massapequa is big for all those reasons that games like these usually are: Both teams are talented, boast some electric players, and are duking it out for tops in Conference A-I. But that's not why you should head out to Burns Park.

The big reason is a little girl: Keira Enright. The first-grader, daughter to Jim Enright (a Weber Middle School teacher) and Heather Enright (a West Islip teacher), was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Both parents are extremely active in the community and Keira herself played PAL lacrosse before her diagnosis. Volunteers will be collecting donations at the event and the teams, who will be sporting KeiraSTRONG shirts, plan to give gifts to the family.

"Both parents are currently on leave from work trying to manage this very long process with their family," Port Washington coach Raquel Piraino said in an email. "We thought both lacrosse programs could come together and show support...We hope you can attend the game."

And if that weren't reason enough to sit in the sun and watch some quality lacrosse, the game is down the block from All-American Burger and Marshall's Ice Cream shop (try the soft-serve pistachio).

Interested? Here are the deets:

Date: Wednesday, April 4
Time: 4:45 p.m.
Place: Burns Park, 4990 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park