Suffolk Top 10 (as of March 25)
Hi there. My name is Laura Albanese. You may know me from that spring sport that’s not girls lacrosse. But I’m here now, I’m fairly excited and I’m willing to geek out as much with lax as I did for four years of baseball. These are your Suffolk Top 10, culled together on Sunday night instead of watching “Mad Men” (ok, fine, WHILE watching “Mad Men.”)
Some things of note:
1. These will change. Probably a lot.
2. If you think some of my rankings are stupid, email me and tell me so. I can be convinced, but only with a really good, coherent argument. It helps if you don’t actually put “your rankings are stupid” in the subject line, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
3. If you think your team is getting shafted because it’s not in the pantheon of lax elite, tell me so. The above rule on convincing me applies. I love an underdog. I’ll hear you out.
*All records are overall.
1. Northport (1-0) – The Class A state champs are back at it, and they opened with a 9-5 win over East Islip on Friday. The name on everyone’s lips preseason was Cortney Fortunato and with good reason: the Notre Dame-bound attack was ranked the No. 1 junior in the nation by ESPNHS and seems more than capable in leading the team, which lost superstar Shannon Gilroy to graduation. She had two goals and an assist against EI, but the big story was Paige Bonomi, who had five goals, and goalie Michaela Aymong (12 saves).
2. Hauppauge (1-0) – Suffolk Class B champions dominated Babylon in their season opener: a 14-4 win led by Taylor Ranftle with four goals and three assists. Lauren Descalzo added three goals and one assist, while Darla Poulin added a hat-trick of her own.
3. Ward Melville (2-0) – Talk about statement games: The Patriots defeated Class B power Sayville in a 6-5 thriller Tuesday afternoon. Erin Cunningham's goal proved to be the game-winner, as Ward Melville took a 6-4 lead with 1:31 left. They were right back at it three days later with a 16-6 win over West Islip – a game where Emily Rogers-Healion added two goals and three assists. Airtight defense: They got it.
4. Bay Shore (1-0) – Bay Shore outscored West Babylon 12-4 in the first half of its 15-10 win on March 23. And yeah, they’re well-balanced – Kyra Harney had four goals and an assist and three other girls notched the hat trick: Kaitlin Arnold, Carly Cox and Caroline deLyra.
5. Floyd (0-0) – Yup, they haven’t played a game yet. But the Colonials, who fell to Northport in the Class A semis last year, return some formidable talent. That includes one of the best goalies around in All-American Chelsey Sidaras.
6. Mt. Sinai (1-0) – All hail the Long Island Class C champs (who came thisclose to being the state champions). The Mustangs defeated Westhampton 14-9, led by Caroline Fitzgerald and Sydney Pirreca, who had five goals apiece.
7. Shoreham Wading River (1-0) –SWR upset Sayville in the Class B semifinals last year and return to Class C this year as one of the favorites. They didn’t disappoint in their opener, defeating Comsewogue, 17-4, behind three goals and three assists from Jessica Angerman.
8. Half Hollow Hills (1-0) – Hills started off strong, defeating Smithtown East, 13-7. Alexis Maffucci had two goals and four assists and Cara Pascarella had three goals and two assists.
9. Eastport-South Manor (1-0) – ESM defeated Kings Park, 15-7, thanks to Dakota Mason and Angelica Fuccillo, who had three goals apiece. Between them and Johns Hopkins’-bound midfielder Dene’ DiMartino, an All-American, the future looks bright.
10. Sayville (2-1) – Sayville bounced back from a tough loss against Ward Melville to wallop Islip, 16-1. Emily Meier had four goals and Connie Nielsen had three goals and an assist. Keep an eye on Meier, who has 11 goals in three games.
