Fast start for talented Carey

The injury bug reared its ugly head on Carey girls’ lacrosse in 2018. However, despite being without their top player for all of last spring, the Lady Seahawks strung together a mid-season run that saw them win six of seven games and went on the earn a playoff spot.

With the return of junior Kelly-Ann McGrath, who scored 79 goals as a freshman, and the continued growth of a group of talented players, Carey should be among the teams fighting for Nassau Conference IV supremacy in 2019.

The Lady Seahawks are off to their best start in years. After a 15-10 victory over visiting Baldwin on April 4, Carey has a record of 5-1 (4-0 in league play.) Junior Alex Busch scored a season-high seven goals and added three assists, and McGrath added six goals and four assists to lead the way.

“I’m excited about this group,” Carey coach Nicole Kaye said. “They’re really coming together as a team both on and off the field. We’re working hard on what needs to be done when we face challenging situations, and we’ve shown improvement. We should be right in the mix.” Kaye is assisted by Allyson Reynolds.

McGrath’s ability to score is just a small part of her game. She’s dominant at controlling the draw, and runs the offense with precision and tenacity. McGrath, who Kaye calls a one-of-a-kind competitor, has 27 goals and 18 assists through the team’s first six games.

With McGrath out of the lineup in 2018, Busch rose to the occasion and then some scoring 60 goals while registering 16 assists. She’s picked up where she left off. The junior midfielder has 31 goals to lead the team.

A trio of sophomores round out a deep group of midfielders. Jenna Gallant is aggressive on the offensive end and has the potential to put up big numbers. Brianna Colasurdo has a wicked shot that she can rip with accuracy from all over, while Sarah Leder can play both midfield and attack.

Kaye has talent and intelligence at low attack. Seniors Jenna Lim and Athanasia Tzakas won’t fill up the scoresheet, but their ability to cut and screen, and play with poise doesn’t go unnoticed. Junior Gabby Campos is always at the right place at the right time, and understands how to play away from the ball.

Junior Vanessa Tortorella is off to a great start. The left handed netminder had a season-high 20 saves in Carey’s home opener, a 13-10 win over Valley Stream Central.  

The defensive unit has made tremendous strides. Senior Maia Membreno is a leader and the backbone of the group. She’s flanked by junior Kerri-Ann Walker. Athletic freshman Natalia Dominguez has been a terrific addition. Sophomores Julia Fusco and Heather Noone round out the defense.

“We lost a lot on defense to graduation,” Kaye said. “The desire is there, and we’re getting better at getting the ball out of our zone. They’re definitely coming together.”