Blue Devils Topple Eastport-South Manor on Senior Day
Samantha Lynch scored off a pass from Katie Reilly with 13 seconds remaining in the second overtime to help the Huntington High School girls’ lacrosse team topple powerful Eastport-South Manor before a crowd of 200 at Blue Devil Stadium, 11-10.
Before the action started, seniors Emily Maggio and Lucie Lavelle were honored during a pre-game ceremony for their commitment to the program over the years. The teenagers were joined on the field by their parents. Coaches Kathy Wright and Molly Burnett presented the pair with flowers before the team crowded around them a commemorative photo.
The Sharks took an early lead before Huntington found its grove. The Blue Devils went ahead 9-8 late in the second half, but Kristin Anderson’s goal with 2:18 remaining tied the score and forced overtime.
Emma DeGennaro scored off another Reilly pass early in the first extra frame to put Huntington back in front, 10-9. Eastport-South Manor again responded as Jacqueline Wasilko found the back of the net with 2:26 left in the second overtime. About two minutes later, Reilly and Lynch teamed up for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Lynch (75 goals, 17 assists) had three goals and an assist. Reilly (41g, 79a) added two goals and five assists. DeGennaro (52g, 16a) scored three times. Alyssa Amorison (28g, 15a) tallied a pair of goals. Irina DeSimone (8g, 4a) also scored a goal. Goalie Anna Tesoriero was sensational, stopping 17 shots, including several from close range in overtime.
Caitlin Knowles, Camille Stafford, Heather Forster, Brianna McDonald, Hailey Bengston and Cassidie Giammarino shined defensively against Eastport-South Manor’s high-powered offense. Forster won numerous draw controls to give Huntington an edge when it needed it the most.
“I thought that everyone played as hard as they could today, knowing that coming up with the win would be amazing,” DeGennaro said. “Second effort was extremely important throughout the game and created a lot of good opportunities. Our defense was strong and it caused turnovers that helped bring momentum to the offense. Overall, everyone stepped up and played together as one unit giving us the win in the end.”
The win improved Huntington’s record in Suffolk Division II to 12-2 and 14-2 overall. The loss dropped Eastport-South Manor to 12-2 in divisional play and 13-2 overall.
“This game really showed how much heart our team has,” Reilly said. “Anna made some amazing saves that kept us in the game and the defense was solid. Sam came in clutch with some big defensive plays and then the goal and Heather once again changed the game with her draws.”
Blue Devil Notes: Tesoriero has 123 saves through 16 games this spring . . . Mackenzie Maloney (7g), Emma Greenhill (6g, 1a), Emma Petrizzi (2g, 1a), Kelly Palladino (2g), Meghan Plant (2g), Knowles (1g, 1a), Lavelle (1g, 1a), Isabella Piccola (1g), Bengston (1g), Forster (1g), Giammarino (1g) and McDonald (1g) have also scored this season for Huntington . . . Stafford has an assist . . . Goalies Taylor Moreno (32 saves) and Fiona Geier (nine saves) have combined to stop 41 shots.