Baldwin involved in playoff race

Baldwin girls’ lacrosse brought the offensive firepower in its conference matchup against Herricks on April 28, as the girls consistently found the net in the 16-10 victory.
This was the most the Bruins scored in a game so far this season. While there was a plethora of impressive performances to highlight, Sophomore Jasmine Tiong Smith’s consistent proficiency on draws caught coach Rebecca LaFlare’s eye.
“Our draw control was amazing and a lot of that was Jasmine Tiong Smith,” Laflare said. “She had a lot of draw controls and won a lot of them and that is what wins games. I also think our transition was really beautiful today.”
Tiong Smith was certainly worthy of the shout out from the coach, as the sophomore’s ability to win face-offs was invaluable in setting the tone and earning the Bruins extra possessions and granting them more time of possession.
On offense, the Bruins were able to score from a variety of sets and looks, demonstrating the versatility and potency of the unit. Seventh-grader Kaitlin Timmes played well above her age level, as she notched 4 goals and 2 assists from sheer footspeed. She now has 24 goals on the season. Senior Kirsten Mahler led the team with five goals while showcasing the ability both the beat defenders in isolation and an innate sense to cut into soft spots of the defense. Sophomores Emma Ryan and Nina Randazzo both had multi-goal efforts, with Ryan scoring 3 times and Randazzo scoring twice. Junior Kathy Romero and eighth-grader CJ Keryc also scored.

Defensively, the Bruins had their hands full with what appeared to be a potent Herricks attacking unit. One standout was senior goalie Maia Goveia, who had 5 saves on the afternoon, with most of them coming in the clutch situations in the second half. The group was able to withstand Herricks enough to ensure the victory, but LaFlare recognizes the defense will need to improve for the stretch run. Considering the group’s impressive performances earlier in the season against Hicksville and Island Trees, where the defense held the opposition to under 5 goals, LaFlare is confident in the girl’s ability to rebound.
“We definitely need to work on our defense,” LaFlare said. “A few things fell apart in this one, but I think we will come back stronger.”
The Bruins are amid a late-season playoff push. They have a 5-4 record and a 5-2 record in Conference 4, good enough for fourth place. The victory over Herricks was the third win in a row, as they had beaten Hicksville 5-4 and Clarke 12-4 in the two games prior.
However, Baldwin dropped a road battle against Plainview, 13-6. The Bruins have three games remaining, as they will take on Jericho on the road and then Wheatley and New Hyde Park at home to end the season. These games will be critical in determining whether the Bruins play in the postseason.
Baldwin will take on Wheatley at home this Thursday at 4:45 p.m.