The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ lacrosse team consisted of more than three dozen seventh and eighth graders all eager to improve and compete this past spring. The Blue Devils proved to be a very competitive squad.
Coached by Linda Costello-Roth and Ysrael Gonzalez, the roster included 23 seventh graders and 16 eighth grade players. The group included a mix of experienced veterans and newcomers excited to learn and beginning mastering the sport.
The team featured seventh graders Kayleigh Bender, Tess Calabria, Jane Callery, Keira Coulter, Casey DiGioia, Emersen Evans, Stephanie Flores, Lily Froggatt Bale, Jada Joseph, Marley Joseph, Samantha Koepele, Sophie Lange, Megan Lewis, Isabella McCarthy, Samantha McGloin, Caroline McGreevy, Riley Murtagh, Jordana Paniccia, Brooke Parks, Olivia Polinsky, Reese Rinaldi, Olivia Spada and Ava Tizzio and eighth graders Talia Addeo, Grace Allen, Katherine Balm, Miranda Bellissimo, Hope Bilkey, McKenna Buffa, Hannah Byers, Gemma Cartwright, Quinn Fox, Sarah Krisch, Neha Rathore, Jordan Rund, Maria Sabatino, Anna Safonte, Carlee Schultz and Anna Bell Young.
“It was a very close-knit group of girls,” Costello-Roth said. “They got along very well. The more experienced players helped the others improve their game.”
The coaching staff feels very positive about the 2020 season. “We had very strong seventh graders,” Costello-Roth said.
Despite the large roster size, “the girls’ got good amounts of playing time,” Costello-Roth said.
The Finley Blue Devils played games against East Northport, West Hollow, West Islip-Udall, Stimson, Oldfield, Commack, Northport, Bay Shore, Candlewood and West Islip-Beach.
Among Finley’s losses were a pair of close defeats to West Islip-Udall (10-9) and Oldfield (12-9).
Many of the players are on club teams and will be playing in summer tournaments and further developing their skills so they are ready to return ever better next spring for Finley or the high school program.
