H-ton Girls’ Lax Knocked Out of Suffolk Playoffs

The Huntington girls’ lacrosse team kept the score close into the second half before Northport used its experience to pull away from the Blue Devils and post a 14-6 victory in the Suffolk Division I quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon.

Northport took an early lead, but Huntington stayed within range, trailing 4-2 after the first period and 6-4 at halftime. The Blue Devils cut their deficit to a single goal early in the third period, 6-5. But the Tigers then went on to score eight of the next nine goals in the game to knock Huntington out of the playoffs and end the team’s season.

Junior Sabrina Boyle led the Blue Devils with three goals. Kayleigh Bender, Bridget Callery and Grace Gordon all scored goals in the game.

But Huntington had no answer to Northport’s Kennedy Radziul and Kate Atkinson, who scored nine goals between them. Christina Lauro added a goal and four assists.

Huntington’s defensive unit of Reese Rinaldi, Ava McDonald, Izzy Palacios and Kyra Larsen all performed well in the face of Northport’s relentless attack.

Huntington took solace in its second consecutive 10 win season. But, truth be told, players and coaches Katie Reilly, Lauren Blackburn and Chris Taylor all hoped to go further in the playoffs. But with a young team, that included only two seniors on the roster, the Blue Devils’ time has not yet come.

For Bender and Rinaldi it was the final time the pair will wear Blue Devil uniforms. The two seniors, who have meant so much to Huntington over the years are set to graduate next month. Bender is headed to Hofstra University while Rinaldi will be attending the University of Georgia.

“Having the opportunity to wear Huntington across my chest and represent this program for the past four years has been an honor,” Bender said. “The coaches and players are the best group of people. The knowledge they’ve shared with me and the memories we’ve made together are ones I will hold with me for a lifetime.”

While Bender is an offensive dynamo, Rinaldi is a defensive specialist. Both will be missed by the Blue Devils.

“Wearing a Huntington lacrosse uniform for the past four years has been nothing short of amazing,” Rinaldi said. “I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing team and program. Every time I wear my uniform I am reminded of all the great things that Huntington varsity girls’ lacrosse has brought me. I will miss it so much, but am so grateful for the time I spent in this program.”

Huntington needs time to process the season and analyze where the team is and where it hopes to go. The coaching staff and the athletic department both want to see the Blue Devils competing for county and state championships.