Lady Bulldogs' offense has bite

It’s taken some time to get seven underclassmen into the mix for the Hewlett Lady Bulldogs on the lacrosse field, but one thing that’s been on point from the start is the offense. Led by senior low attack Emily Cohen and senior attack wing Sam DiSalvo, Hewlett (1-6 overall, 1-3 in Conference II) has averaged 12 goals per game and there’s still room for growth.

“When our offense is clicking it’s hard to stop,” coach Pat Gormley said of a unit that also has a handful of the younger players breaking into the scoring column. “And now they’re really starting to understand the positioning. I don’t think the offense has hit its stride yet.”

Cohen, No. 1 in Nassau County in goals (35), also has 14 assists and is second overall in points (49), scoring as many as seven in a game and at least three each time she’s stepped on the field this season. A dodger and a weaver with excellent quickness, she scored three goals and dished out four assists in last Saturday’s 16-11 loss to Friends Academy. Freshman low attack Kylie Halpern, sophomore Olivia Epstein senior Emily Cohen and Carli Green have also contributed in the scoring column. “Emily and Sam have been double- and triple-teamed and they’re still getting shots off,” Gormley said. “The other [scorers] are just learning where to be when they don’t have the ball.”

DiSalvo, meanwhile, is back after missing all of last season because of injury and is only now starting to round into game shape. She has four goals in each of Hewlett’s last two games and 24 overall. Gormley has made one tweak to DiSalvo’s game that paid off immediately, moving her from faceoffs to the outside of the circle where her height has helped retain possession for the Lady Bulldogs. “She’s catching the draws,” he said of DiSalvo, who’s headed to Stony Brook University to play lacrosse. “She’s a smart Division-I player, and they’re a Top 10 team. She knows what she’s doing.”

Replacing DiSalvo on faceoffs has been freshman Kristen DeCicco, the center midfielder, while junior Anna Maiorano is developing into a defensive stopper at midfield position, recently drawing single assignments. Junior Gabby Korin, who earned All-Conference honors last season is back at midfield and freshman Nina Squicciarini is quickly developing into a strong midfielder.

Trouble in transition, particularly turnovers, has offset the return of three seniors—Allie May, Sammi Belluccia and Julie Korin. May, who has a knack for blocking shots, had a strong second half in the loss to Friends Academy, as Hewlett allowed just five second half scores after 11 in the first half.

Gormley has gone with the hot hand in net, alternating between senior Alyssa Barosso and freshman Gillian Moser. Both have sound positioning and quick hands. Barosso, a first year varsity goalie, didn’t play last season, but made several big saves last Saturday to keep the Lady Bulldogs within striking distance. “We just want to make sure [the team] stays positive,” Gormley said. “We’re hoping some wins string together.”