The cold and snowy weather has been a real drag, but the Huntington High School girls’ lacrosse team is making the best of it and maintaining a positive attitude.
Conditions have forced the team indoors for much of the early season, but players have shrugged it all off since it’s completely out of their control. They are concentrating on getting in tip-top physical condition and sharpening their skills to the extent indoor workouts will allow.
“The team is looking strong,” senior Amber Stieve said. “We have really been working on our running and stick work. We have plays set, but it’s mostly some freelance movement. Even though most of our scrimmages and games have been cancelled, I think we are ready to play and show everyone how good we are.”
The Blue Devils are led by head coach Kim Gilroy and assistant coaches Linda Costello-Roth and Beth Vogelsang. The junior varsity squad is coached by Vincent Tannazzo and Shea Scully.
Senior Sarah Agrillo said the team is moving along “really well” and she’s enthusiastic about its prospects. “Everything is finally coming together,” she said. “We have a really strong group of girls.”
Huntington’s roster consists of freshman Jordan Forte, sophomores Megan Agrillo, Lena Annunziata, Abby Maichin, Maya Santa-Maria, Marissa Stafford and Holly Wright, juniors Paige Lennon and Alyssa Sorensen and seniors Sarah Agrillo, Isabella Annunziata, Megan Bacik, Sigrid Cassell, Emma Greenhill, Isabella Piccola, Catie Ricciardelli and Amber Stieve.
Over the next two weeks, the Blue Devils are scheduled to play league games against William Floyd, Bay Shore and Longwood and a non-league contest at Farmingdale on Saturday, April 7 at 12 p.m.
“We have really been focusing on our offensive and defensive plays,” said Piccola about the indoor workouts. “Our plays incorporate all of our skills, which is great. It has been a little tough with the crazy weather we are having, but we are staying positive and can’t wait to begin our game schedule.”
Maichin is striving to build on the fabulous freshman she turned in last spring when she tallied 56 goals and nine assists. “We are looking really good, despite all of the adversity that we have been facing with the weather,” she said. “We have been making the most of the situation and every aspect of our team is looking super strong. We can’t wait to get outside and get league play started.”
The Blue Devil captains are Stieve, Greenhill, Piccola, Agrillo, Ricciardelli and Isabella Annunziata. They are all experienced players and are already taking leading roles with the squad.
Greenhill, who signed a NCAA Division I letter of intent to play next year at James Madison University is looking forward to her final high school lacrosse campaign. “Everything is going pretty well,” she said. “It’s been hard having to practice indoors for the majority of the season so far, but hopefully this week we’ll get turf time.”
Huntington is hoping to improve on last season’s 9-8 record, which included a first round, 10-9 playoff loss to Riverhead.
“The weather has been testing us, but we have made the best of every situation,” Ricciardelli said. “We are focusing on positivity and getting the little things in place during the pre-season. This extra time has been a blessing in disguise. We are prepped and ready to have a great season.”
Huntington is expected to feature an aggressive style of play this spring. The team is confident, but has a healthy degree of respect for the opponents on its schedule.
“Although the weather has been holding us back from playing outside we really have been using our time in the gym wisely and it has only made us better,” Isabella Annunziata said. “We are excited and ready to get the season going this week.”
