Rebuilt Baldwin ready to roll

Losing 15 seniors from a year ago is never easy for a lacrosse program to overcome. But the Baldwin Lady Bruins are getting through it nicely so far with the help of some new talent and a rugged defense.

Baldwin split its first two games, shaking off a season-opening loss at Jericho with a dominant 8-1 win over Conference IV foe Mineola in its home opener on March 28. Losing so many graduates from last year’s team prompted the drop from Conference III.

Last year, the Lady Bruins had to wait for four starters to finish their magical state-championship basketball season before joining the team, and the result was an 0-5 start that put them in an early hole en route to a 4-9 campaign. The girls’ basketball team went on to capture the prestigious Federation championship on March 24, but only starting defenseman Sarah Henry was on that squad. 

Henry’s loss was felt in the 9-3 setback to Jericho, but the back defender returned in time to help shut down the Mineola offense.

“Her defense is unbelievable,” coach Rebecca LaFlare said. “No one could get past her in the Mineola game. One-handed, [she] was flapping balls down when they were coming near her. She’s just a strong, tough defender for us.”

The departure of 44-goal scorer Sarah Pulis left a big hole on the offensive side, but this year’s team has put forth a more balanced attack with five different players recording at least two goals through the first two games. Sophomore Megan Doyle leads with three.

“Megan Doyle just started playing lacrosse last year and she’s phenomenal,” LaFlare said. “She is an amazing athlete. For her to just pick up the sport, and she’s my starting middie, to have all these goals already is great for her.”

Junior Katie Kallamni is the other Lady Bruin to amass four points in the first two games with two goals and two assists and is also primed for a big season.

“She has some shot,” LaFlare said. “I think she’s definitely going to be doing a lot on our attack as well.”

In addition to Henry, junior Fabiola Belizaire and freshman Kaitlyn Trepeta have also been strong contributors on the back end and senior midfielder Aisling Geraghty has impressed on both ends of the field with two assists to go along with her strong defensive play.

Senior Kim Conforti earned the starting goaltender spot after backstopping Baldwin’s win over Mineola. The five saves she made that day may not seem like a lot on paper, but she made some big stops early in the contest to keep the Lady Bruins in the game.

“Each one was huge,” LaFlare said. “There were two free possession shots that she saved that were great saves and there were ones that just came down the middle on her.”

Baldwin was set to visit Hicksville on Wednesday, after press time, and will face tough conference opponents back-to-back in New Hyde Park and Roslyn thereafter.