GCMS Girls are Long Island Lax Champs

Submitted by Alison Metzler

Last Tuesday night, under the lights at Burns Park in Massapequa, the GCRGLC 7th Grade team won the Long Island Senior Girls Youth Lacrosse League championship, coming from behind to defeat Eastern Conference Champ Connetquot by the score of 8-7.

The win capped off a perfect 9-0 season for this very talented 7th Grade team.

GC got into the finals having won their 7 regular season games by an average score of 13-4 and then beating Manhasset 11-8 in the Western Conference Playoff.

Connetquot, a very strong team with 3 varsity players on their roster, got into the finals by avenging their only regular season loss, beating Cold Spring Harbor in the Eastern Conference Playoff 8-6.

Both sides anticipated a tight game and the teams did not disappoint. It was a thrilling game, to say the least, and kept the fans on the edge of their seats the entire game, right up to the last second.

The two teams had already matched up twice over the winter, once at the Best of the Island Tournament at Adelphi and once in the pre-season Referee Jamboree in West Islip, and both games played out the exact same way - Connetquot led by multiple goals at halftime, but Garden City pulled out 1 goal victories at the end of each and this match up would be no different.

Sure enough, Connetquot  came out very tough especially on the draw and in their defensive end. Garden City got on the board first, but Connetquot came right back and eventually took a 6-4 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Garden City made a few adjustments, locked down defensively, chipped away at the score and eventually took a 7-6 lead.  Connetquot fought back however and scored their first and only goal of the second half with about 6 minutes remaining to tie the game at 7-7.  With the momentum now going their way, Connectquot took possession on the next draw. They called a time out and from the huddle it appeared they would "hold the ball" for the last shot . . .  but GC's defense proved impenetrable and aggressive, causing a turnover to retake possession with about 2:00 to play.  GC pushed the ball and scored to take the lead 8-7.

With under 2 minutes left, GC controlled the next crucial draw and held on for the victory in what, based on the team's chatter after the game, was the greatest game the girls had ever played in.

Coaches Metzler, Heaney and Kubler have been working with these girls since the team was selected in November, turning this group of talented players into a great team.  The girls have proudly represented Garden City leading up to the season, playing winter ball and competing in tournaments.  Along the way, as they’ve racked up wins and continued to improve, they’ve earned a great deal of respect from the "elite" lacrosse community.

As a result, the 7th grade team has been invited to compete against New Jersey's premier elite team, T3, in New Jersey at various different tournaments, against Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue team at half time of Stony Brook’s ACC Championship and next week against Darien's 7th grade A team.

The notable list of victories earned by the 7th Grade Team includes wins over local select club teams Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue, Liberty Black, FLG, Express, 91 and Elevate as well as select club teams from NJ, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Upstate New York.  With this Victory the girls now have the Long Island Championship to add to their long list of accomplishments.

Members of the 7th Grade CHAMPIONSHIP team: Cubby Biscardi, Missy Biscardi, Amanda Cerrato, Caitlin Cook, Meghan Dealy, Maggie Digan, Mary Kate Dolan, Tara Fenty, Lindsey Gambino, Emily Gaven, Erin Healy, Ella Heaney, Alex Heber, Kelly Hollis, Jennifer Kubler, Liana McDonnell, Sarah Mackey, Kelsey Macri, Kara Metzler, Katie Mullins, Anna Paisley, Emily Quinn and Emma Rivielli.

Team 19 Celebrating their Championship!