Thursday, June 19, 2025
Two years ago, North Shore’s girls’ lacrosse team thumped Plainedge, 17-3, in the Nassau County quarterfinals.
Plainedge delivered its payback Sunday
The Red Devils are headed to Adelphi after edging North Shore, 12-10, in the Class C quarterfinals.
“The seniors today, they didn’t forget that game,’’ said Plainedge coach Kristin Susko. “They’ve made such progress the last two years.’’
Senior star Madison Wade, who is committed to Pace, netted 5 goals, 1 assist for Plainedge (12-4), which advanced to its first semifinals appearance since 2018.
“It was a bad game for us,’’ Wade said of the 2023 encounter. “We wanted to show: they did it to us once, we’re not going to let them do it again.’’
Plainedge, the sixth seed, will face second-seeded Wantagh at Adelphi on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Wade was helped by her partner in crime, Lia Villari, who pumped in four goals. Villari also is headed to Pace.
North Shore led 3-2 after one quarter before Plainedge took control. The Red Devils grabbed a 6-5 lead with 4:21 left in the half and never trailed again.
“Our whole team had confidence in playing the best we could,’’ said Wade, wbo excelled at faceoffs and defense. “We wanted our team to go to Adelphi. It’s an accomplishment for our team. This shows how much we improved and how good we work together.’
All season, goalie Jill Mauersberger has been a revelation in her first season as starter. Sunday was no different in making five saves. Mauersberger had preserved Plainedge’s 13-12 regular-season victory over North Shore, making a game-saving stop with 10 seconds left.
“Our girls played with heart, hustle and grit and kept matching the speed and athleticism of North Shore,’’ Susko said. “They really wanted it.’’
It was another bitter loss for North Shore to their North Massapequa rivals in the season after their superstar Kylee Colbert graduated.
Ironically, co-coach Jules Keenan played for the last Plainedge squad to make it to Adelphi. “Plainedge is a great program and they instill grit and determination in their athletes,’’ Keenan said. “That’s why they won.’’
The Vikings kept it very close. Natalie Yoo scored 3 goals and added 3 assists, Alexandra Basile recorded 4 goals and an assist. Lila Archer 1 goal and 2 assists.
“It definitely hurts,’’ Keenan said. “These girls worked so hard this season and the seniors we have deserve more than what they got. But those Plainedge seniors refused to lose and you have to respect that.’’
It’s Plainedge which gets to face its neighbor – defending county champion Wantagh. “We’re going to be looking at game film the next few days and seeing what they have,’’ Susko said. “They’re fast. They’re very good.’’
