Bethpage boys lacrosse goalie Joey Traversa makes 14 saves in win over Plainedge
Goalie Joey Traversa of Bethpage makes the save during a boys lacrosse game against Plainedge on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Bethpage. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Bethpage’s Joey Traversa swung his stick down to make an impressive save against Plainedge’s Andrew Picardi. It was Traversa’s first stop of the game, but when he looked to clear the ball, Plainedge’s Dominic Agovino jumped the pass and scored the opening goal.
Traversa patted his chest, taking accountability. It’s in moments like that where Traversa said he adopts the “goldfish” mentality, moving on from what had just happened and focusing on what comes next.
So, he made another save. Then another. And by the end of Wednesday’s Nassau I-A game, teammates ran up to Traversa and let him know he had just shut out Plainedge in the second half — a fact Traversa didn’t even realize — in a 14-save performance that allowed Bethpage to win, 7-3, at home.
Some highlights from Bethpage’s win over Plainedge.
— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) April 16, 2026
A man-down save from Bethpage’s Joey Traversa.
A laser goal from Bethpage’s Alex Neuman.
A no-look assist from Plainedge’s Brady Kelly to Andrew Picardi.
A goal with 7 seconds left in the 1H from Bethpage’s Colin Waxer. pic.twitter.com/sVe3inZaaU
“It never clicked with me,” Traversa said. “I just keep playing the game, making the saves and seeing the ball.”
Bethpage coach Patrick Gorman said he felt like his team was able to press offensively because of his faith in his defense — featuring guys like Tristan Maricondo and Louis Schneider — and Gorman’s knowledge that Traversa was amid what his coach called “his best game this year.”
“It allows us to breathe sometimes,” Gorman said. “We gave up some looks and he really stood tall.”
Traversa wasn’t the only senior captain to thrive Wednesday as Gorman also praised his three other senior captains in Luke Waxer, Chase Solliday and James LiPetri. All displayed glue-like on-ball defensive ability, which paired well with an in-form Traversa in the cage.
Bethpage (5-3) took a 6-3 lead into the fourth quarter before LiPetri scored with 8:40 remaining to give the Golden Eagles a four-goal advantage.
It was a particular banner day for the Waxer family. Assistant coach Brett Waxer watched proudly as his two sons, Luke and Colin, accounted for four of Bethpage’s seven goals. Colin Waxer scored a game-high three goals which included a 18-yard laser off an assist from Solliday with seven seconds left in the first half.
“He, as only a sophomore, is one of our best communicators on offense,” Gorman said. “He’s important to have out there, like a third coach.”
Traversa wasn’t the only goalie to impress as Jamison Smeltz of Plainedge (3-4) made 13 stops in the cage.
“He did a good job in the goal; he needed that confidence booster,” Plainedge coach Dan Achatz said.
As for Traversa and Bethpage, wins fuel belief. That only grows greater when your goalie refuses to concede as Traversa did Wednesday.
Unbelievable effort from Plainedge with just three seconds left in the first half.
— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) April 15, 2026
Somehow manage to get a shot on and Joey Traversa continues to impress, making the stop at the buzzer.
Eight saves already. Six in the 2nd quarter. pic.twitter.com/cjHHsTMjJc
“I believe in this team, I believe in my boys,” Traversa said. “We’re going to win some big games at the end of this year."
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
