Monday, June 23, 2025
In her first season at the helm of the varsity Freeport girls’ lacrosse team, Lauren Chimeri brought the program to an 8-5 conference record. With assistant coach Gina Rowan by her side, the Red Devils held their own against some tough competition.
Chimeri noted that the contests against Wheatley, West Hempstead and Malverne were all tight, and because of the difficulty on the field, the players’ true resiliency shone through.
Freeport played the way the Knicks play in playoffs, next to no substitutions. In large part, it was due to injuries, something that nobody has control over. With that, Chimeri was beaming with pride for her players.
“That being said, I am always extremely proud of the girls, they always pull together as a team, give their all and never give up until the final horn,” she said. “They always remain[ed] poised and sportsmanlike even when playing very aggressive teams.”
Freeport finished the year with a three-game win streak, besting Sewanhaka on May 1, Elmont May 5 and Herricks May 8.
In the Herricks victory, senior Ciana Kunen shone, with four goals and an assist for the Lady Devils. The co-captain ended the season with 40 goals in the 2025 campaign.
While Kunen, a midfielder, saw time at the draw control, so did freshman Kiara Perez, another midfielder. Perez netted 18 goals, and Chimeri said she has lots of potential.
Another key part of the offense was junior Ava Smith, an attacker by nature. She found the back of the net 30 times, and has thrown her support to the midfield when called upon.
Filling out the offensive line were seniors Leah Awalom and Ashley Zavala, who Chimeri noted as significantly stepping up this spring to net goals with a dozen.
On the defensive side of the field was junior Julia Mendoza-Pineyro along with seniors Janiya Hancock and Bryana Quiros. Chimeri highlighted how Mendoza-Pineyro was a great captain leader on the field as a defensive midfielder, wreaking havoc amongst opponents to come up with ground balls and causing turnovers. Her and Hancock went together on that front, helping Quiros, the senior goalie, see as few shots on goal as possible. Quiros ended the season, her second in-net, with over 40 saves.
With no postseason trip, and the school year on the verge of wrapping up, it creates for the perfect opportunity to introspect.
“We will start getting the team together over the winter for indoor practice to prepare for next season. We will focus on strengthening the fundamentals,” Chimeri said. “I think next season looks bright for the lady devils. I already can’t wait to get started.”
That leaves the question of who will be on the field for the 2026 season: Shania Hazel is expected to start in the cage next season for Freeport, as 11 seniors are graduating this year. After that, it comes down to the returners and the talent on the junior varsity squad, something that Chimeri has been eyeing for some time recently.
