Hello girls lax fans, we've got some goodies for you. First off, here is this week's girls lacrosse insider on Sara Sangiorgio, a junior at West Islip who lost her sister in a car crash January of 2007. You can read more about Sangiorgio by clicking the link below.
Sangiorgio is part of West Islip's rise to the top of Suffolk's Division I. The Lady Lions have just one loss, and it's to second-place Northport.
West Islip is the fifth-ranked team in this week's Suffolk top-10 (the third team from Division I). Its next two games - at Lindenhurst on Saturday and home against West Babylon next Wednesday - are against two top-10 squads.
Also in today's paper today was Marc Jiminez's story about Wantagh's Claire Petersen, who is among Long Island's assist leaders, and Shoreham-Wading River's 15-10 over Sayville.
The Lady Wildcats are a perfect 8-0 in Division II and 9-0 overall. Their game at home against Rocky Point one week from today will be a matchup of two undefeated teams and will likely decide the Division II crown. Both these teams have been phenomenal this season, and this game will be the renewal of a rivalry that is becoming the annual championship game for the division. It's also our Suffolk Game of the Week.
Okay, well you've seen our Suffolk and Nassau rankings now, so it's time to unveil this week's L.I. rankings (with an interesting tidbit about each team):
1. Garden City (Next two games are at Manhasset on Monday and at home against SWR a week from Saturday. Haven't allowed more than eight goals to a Long Island team this season).
2. West Babylon (only loss of the season is to Garden City. Shannon Smith has a Long Island leading 81 goals through 10 games, which is more than a handful of teams have).
3. Northport (came back from a 7-4 halftime deficit against Massapequa on Tuesday).
4. Farmingdale (two nice, close wins over North Shore and Rocky Point this past week).
5. Shoreham-Wading River (first non-league game was a success with a win over Bay Shore. Then followed with a business-like win at Sayville. The team has scored at least 13 goals in every game, but the team leader - Stephanie Anderson - has just 22 on the season. Seven girls have 11 or more, though).
6. Manhasset (solid win over St. Anthony's on Saturday).
7. Rocky Point (only loss was a 14-13 decision against Farmingdale).
8. North Shore (two losses this season were to Garden City and a tough one to Farmingdale earlier today).
9. West Islip (huge games loom against Lindenhurst and West Babylon).
10. Massapequa (tough loss to Northport after holding a halftime lead).
And to wrap up, here is a video of this afternoon's East Islip-Half Hollow Hills game, in which East Islip senior Ashley Olen scored a career-high nine goals.
Sangiorgio on playing for her sister who passed on January 9, 2007: "It inspires me to do better. I just do what I can for her. She'd always ask about how I was doing and would come to my games when she could."
On her penchant for scoring goals in big games: "I just realized you have to step it up for the good teams."
On the key to West Islip's hot start: "Out team has been playing together for a while now, and we have really good chemistry."
On having a big family: "It's great because you have a lot of people who are there for you. I love it when they all come to my games. My brothers are my No. 1 fans."
On deflecting attention: "I have nothing to be cocky about. We all do things together."
On her relationship with Nicky Galasso on the boys team: "The first time I saw him [after Lindsey's passing] he gave me a hug. But when we see each other we just want to have fun."
Coach Joe Nicolosi on West Islip's season thus far: "It's been a huge stepping stone year for us, and Sara's been a big part of that."
Cassie Campasano on her friendship with Sangiorgio: "It's hard for her all the time, but she knows she can talk to us whenever she feels like it."