Locust Valley girls lacrosse thriving despite young roster of just 14 players
Tessa Matozzo of Locust Valley during a girls lacrosse match against host Division on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Credit: Errol Anderson
Despite its small roster, the Locust Valley girls lacrosse team plays a big game.
With only two substitutes on the bench, the Falcons defeated host Division, 15-7, in a Nassau Conference II matchup Saturday morning. Locust Valley's 14-player roster includes five eighth-graders and not one senior.
Regardless of her team’s youth, coach Carolyn Morales said its ability to adapt and grow is what has allowed Locust Valley to compete at a high level against more experienced competition.
“Because we’re so young, it’s really a matter of talking them through and coaching them through these game situations,” Morales said. “We make some mistakes, but we’re growing through those mistakes and making those adjustments and improving our game IQ.”
As a junior, Tessa Matozzo is a more experienced team leader. She tallied three goals and an assist on Saturday.
Matozzo said her team’s connection is what gives it an edge over other competitors, which the Falcons will seek to take advantage of as the playoffs approach.
“We have such strong chemistry on our team on and off the field that it really shows up in games,” Matozzo said. “Heading into playoffs, we’re really focusing on hard work, ground balls, being really gritty and just giving it 110% at all times.”
But it was sophomore Elizabeth Vitale who lit up the offense this time. The midfielder scored five goals and dished out three assists to lead Locust Valley (8-7, 8-4). Two of Vitale’s assists found Matozzo.
“We’re really a duo,” Vitale said. “It’s really easy to find [Matozzo] because she’s always cutting at the right time. We’ve been playing together since, like, kindergarten, so we’ve just always had that connection.”
Morales said when Vitale and Matozzo are on the field, they elevate everyone’s level of play.
“They’re phenomenal,” Morales said. “They’re our leaders. When the energy is going down, they’re the ones who pick it back up. Their confidence in those younger players has helped improve our entire team’s game.”
Locust Valley held an 8-4 halftime lead before shutting Division out in the third quarter. Paige Murphy led Division (7-9, 2-8) with three goals and an assist while Sophie Liang made seven saves.
The Falcons then went on for five fourth-quarter goals to seal the win. Morales said her team had to work together and play its own game.
“We focused more on playing team defense and moving the ball on offense,” Morales said. “We weren’t really playing our game in the first half so we really just wanted to get back to our brand of lacrosse in the second.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
