Wantagh begins title defense

Fresh off the program’s first Nassau County title, a senior-laden Wantagh girls’ lacrosse team is focused on higher goals in 2016.

Wantagh captured that elusive championship with a 9-6 win against previously unbeaten Manhasset in the Class B finals after falling in seven of the previous nine county title games. The Lady Warriors then suffered heartbreak four days later with an 11-10 setback to Eastport-South Manor in the Long Island Class B championship adding further fuel for Wantagh’s returning 20 players.

“We are looking at states,” said Wantagh third-year head coach Jaclyn Stevens of the team’s mindset this spring. “Now we know what it takes.”

Wantagh brings back nine starters from last year’s historic 17-3 team including college-bound All-American senior tri-captains Nikki Sliwak (Maryland), Kaitlin Cerasi (Massachusetts) and Grace Beshlian (Connecticut). Cerasi and Sliwak helped spark Wantagh’s explosive offense last year with 89 and 88 points, respectively. Beshlian was key catalyst of the championship run with 15 saves in the county title-game triumph against Manhasset and leads an almost entirely new defense.

“I can look at her as another coach since she can see so much of the field,” Stevens said of Beshlian. “She has so many dimensions to her game.”

Seniors Darcie Smith and Michele Smith (no relation) add additional leadership to a veteran roster. Darcie Smith, who has signed with Hofstra, is a dynamic two-way midfielder who tallied 47 points as a junior and can also defend an opposing team’s top player. Michele Smith (New Hampshire) is the Warriors’ lone returning close defender and will anchor the defense in front of Beshlian with junior Taylor Rossi (Pace), sophomore Anna Kaufmann (Hofstra) and freshman Danielle Carson (USC).

Senior Albany-bound attacker Madison Conway was also a key component of last year’s county title team with 32 goals and 11 assists. Attacker Courtney Gendels (Farmingdale State) is also back for her senior season fresh off scoring three straight goals in the county finals that gave Wantagh an 8-4 halftime cushion. Junior attackers Taylor Carson (Arizona State) received big-game experience as a sophomore with goals in the county and Long Island title games.

Adding to Wantagh’s dynamic offense is junior Northwestern commit Megan Gordon, who can play at attack or midfield. Junior midfielder Allie Murphy adds a critical component to Wantagh’s play with the ability to dominate on draw controls and give the Lady Warriors extra offensive possessions.

Wantagh will be among the favorites in Class B along with rivals Garden City and Manhasset. Stevens said what could separate her team from the competition is scoring depth.

“There are so many options,” said Stevens, who played lacrosse at LIU Post. “You can’t shut down everybody.”

Wantagh opened with a 17-7 win against West Babylon on March 21, with Conway and Murphy scoring four goals apiece, and followed with an 11-6 victory at Long Beach behind Darcie Smith’s four points and two goals from Sliwak and Gordon on March 30.