Huntington varsity girls’ lacrosse players can’t wait to start official practices next Monday. The Blue Devils are looking to improve upon last spring’s showing.
The Blue Devils went 9-8 in 2017, reaching the Suffolk Division I playoffs where they bowed to Riverhead in a thrilling game, 10-9.
Huntington returns All-County senior Emma Greenhill (34g, 12a), All-Division senior Isabella Piccola (24g, 21a) and All-Division sophomore Abby Maichin (56g, 9a). Senior All-Tournament defensive specialist Catie Ricciardelli is also back.
“I’m really excited for the season and think that we have learned a lot from last year,” said Maichin, who led the team in scoring as a freshman. “I think we are going to have a super strong year with help from everyone from the freshmen to the seniors. Everyone is going to be able to contribute a lot to the team and help us to get really far and have an extremely successful season.”
Coached by Kim Gilroy, Linda Costello-Roth and Beth Vogelsang, Huntington features an exciting mix of seniors and returning varsity underclassmen along with some promising newcomers.
“I’m really excited for this season,” Greenhill said. “We’ve all been working really hard during our time off preparing for tryouts. We’re scrimmaging some really tough teams in the beginning of the season, which will definitely help us going into our league games. I think we could be really successful this year and I’m super excited. All of us seniors are definitely going to make the best of our last season here!”
Senior Sarah Agrillo is also returning to the field after having her junior season cut short by an injury. “I’m super excited,” she said. “We all have been working together since September. It looks like it’s going to be a strong team, all in all. Everyone has been putting in an overwhelming amount of work to get to the next level of play this year.”
The Blue Devils will open the season with a scrimmage at home on March 14 on the turf field against Harborfields. Huntington will then participate in a multi-team scrimmage at Bayport-Blue Point on March 17.
“I’m really excited for this season,” Ricciardelli said. “The entire team has been preparing for it and we are ready for anything that comes our way. The bar is set high and I know we will meet it.”
Senior Isabella Annunziata is ready to contribute to the Blue Devils’ attack unit. “I’m really excited for the season,” she said. “All the girls have been getting together and putting in the extra effort to make our season that much better. I think we will go far in the playoffs if we keep up what we are doing right now.”
The Blue Devils are scheduled to formally open the competitive season with a non-league game at home against Miller Place on March 19. Scrimmages at Rocky Point (March 22) and Manhasset (March 24) will follow.
League play gets underway on March 27 when Huntington hosts William Floyd. Additional league games will are set with Bay Shore (home on April 4), Longwood (away on April 6), Copiague (home on April 9), Smithtown East (away on April 11), Riverhead (home on April 17), Commack (away on April 19), West Islip (away on April 21), Sachem North (home on April 24), Smithtown West (away on April 27), North Babylon (home on May 2), Ward Melville (away on May 5), Brentwood (away on May 9) and Northport (home on May 11).
In the middle of the league schedule, a non-league game will be played on April 7 at Farmingdale.
“We are all very excited to start the season,” Piccola said. “We’ve all been working so hard during the off season to prepare. There are many scrimmages lined up for us to play in so we can really click before our league games start. This season is really special to me because I’ve been playing with the girls from the senior class since second grade and can’t wait to end [my high school career] on a good note. There are about 10 seniors graduating and we are ready to make this season count and finish strong!”
Senior Amber Stieve is also ready for action. The teenager is an essential component of the Blue Devils’ defense, but she also expects to see time elsewhere on the field.
“This season is going to be a very intense one,” Stieve said. “Our schedule is a tough one, but I believe we will succeed. We have been working out and getting ready for the season these past few weeks so we will be in good shape. I plan on doing what I can and being an asset wherever I am needed. I’m excited for this season and want to make it the best one since it’s my last.”
Senior Megan Bacik and sophomore Maya Santa-Maria are expected to share time in goal. The varsity team’s returning veterans also include Megan Agrillo, Elizabeth Berejka, Sigrid Cassell, Paige Lennon, Alyssa Sorensen, Marissa Stafford and Holly Wright.
Huntington’s players and coaches both have high hopes for the season. The journey begins next Monday.
