Northport girls lacrosse falls in state Class A final

CORTLAND, N.Y. — It certainly wasn’t the outcome any of the players on the Northport girls lacrosse team was looking for. But after a lost season in 2020 and 2021 without a state tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a lot of missed opportunities for the Class of 2022 throughout New York State.

But the Tigers were able to take some semblance of satisfaction in knowing their season went beyond Long Island this spring, although Northport fell to Baldwinsville, 15-9, in the girls lacrosse state Class A final Saturday afternoon at SUNY Cortland.

“Right now is just not the feeling we wanted or expected,” senior midfielder Ella Cabrera said. “But to be able to make it this far and go past the Long Island championship and getting off the island is a huge accomplishment. I’m so proud of every single one of my teammates and we worked so hard for this.”

Northport won the state Class A title in 2019 and exactly 1,099 days passed until the following girls lacrosse state final. Many of this year’s seniors were impact players in that 2019 state championship. The Tigers also won the Long Island Class A crown last spring in an 18-0 season.

This Northport senior class played in as many high-profile games as these last four years allowed.

“I love this senior class,” coach Carol Rainson-Rose said. “I’m heartbroken for them. It’s been an amazing journey with them. I think we only lost three games together, so these kids have been warriors who have worked so hard for the pride of the program.”

Baldwinsville (18-2) gave Northport problems from the opening whistle. Shannon Smith, who had three goals, scored her second goal to cut Baldwinsville’s lead to 4-3 with 7:36 left in the first half. But Baldwinsville closed the opening half on a 5-2 run to take a 9-5 lead at halftime.

“I think we always could have done a little better but today they were better than us,” Smith said. “We could play them tomorrow and who knows what could have happened but today they were better.”

Northport (20-2) didn’t quit in the second half, though. The Tigers brought the score to within 12-8 with 10:55 left in the second half after goals from Kaylie Mackiewicz and Emma McLam, but Baldwinsville scored three of the game’s final four goals.

“We just did not come out strong in the first half,” Cabrera said. “We weren’t able to adjust quick enough and by the time we were able to figure out what to do, it was just too late. But we worked hard until the final whistle, we were running our butts off but we just fell short.”

“I’m very proud of our team to get this far in the season but Baldwinsville was a great team today,” Rainson-Rose said. “They outplayed us.”

Once the clock hit zero, players turned to one another to share one final embrace on the field. Many of this year’s eight-player senior class are going off to play big-time college lacrosse, but they’ll never forget their time playing for their hometown.

“It’s been great, I’m happy I had one last final game with everyone,” Smith said. “Everyone played their heart out and tried their best. We’re grateful to be here.”

Cabrera wants Saturday’s loss to serve as an additional motivator for the returning players to get back to the state final.

‘“I’m hoping the kids that were here know what it feels like and they’re going to work hard and get up here next year,” she said. “These seniors will be watching them get it done.”