Late heroics propel Lynbrook

Maybe the Lynbrook girls’ soccer team will change its nickname from the ‘Owls’ to the ‘Comeback Kids’ this season. 

The Owls, er, Comeback Kids, are 3-0-1 in their last four games despite allowing the first goal in all of them. They even spotted Island Trees a 2-0 lead on Sept. 18 before rallying to tie on junior Leah Casolaro’s own rebound goal 17:28 into the second half.

Lynbrook moved down to Conference AB2 this season and the switch has worked wonders so far – especially for the offense. In another statistical oddity, the Owls won twice and tied two other contests last season despite scoring just three goals the entire season in AB1. They were shut out 10 times, including a loss to Plainedge in the playoff quarterfinals.

Lynbrook was blanked again 5-0 in the opener against Kellenberg on Sept. 4 but has since outscored the opposition 19-5 after a 6-1 shellacking of Mineola last Saturday. 

“We have a really good core returning,” said first-year coach Jenna Crimmins, a former Owl assistant. “I think that helps with experience and maturity and when things get down, they have been stepping up. And overall, we show a lot of grit and don’t quit. And I think because we’ve done it once already, we know that we can come back.”

Casolaro doubled her goal total with a hat trick against Mineola to take over the team lead with six, one ahead of senior Anthonia Edobor. She will carry a four-game goal scoring streak into this week’s action.

“When she gets the ball and puts her head down, she becomes a real core central force for us,” Crimmins said the day before the Mineola game. “She takes care of the ball and she runs through walls and can finish at the end of the day.”

Edobor also has a four-game goal streak while enjoying her first year as a full-time starter, sophomore Olivia Ramirez has four goals in her last three games – her and senior sister Gaby both scored against Mineola – and freshman midfielder Bella Tjaden has also been a playmaker with three assists.

Senior midfielder Jacqueline Thayer has a goal and an assist so far and the position will be further bolstered with the return of senior Gabby Meszaros from a hamstring injury. Meszaros had two of the three Owl goals in 2023.

Junior Bella Medrano has a goal this season and sophomore Jessie Vuotto has shined at outside midfielder, while junior Gianna Marafioti provides a spark off the bench at forward/outside midfield. Senior Katy Gottlieb brings leadership to the team.

Junior Ella Carroll also scored against Friends and anchors a defense that also features juniors Addison DiFiore, Maggie Mattera and Payton Stalter and center midfielder Leah Pisano. Freshman Raquelle Vainroob (23 saves) has appeared in each game in goal this season, but senior Cate Jennings, last year’s starter, has also seen plenty of playing time and has stopped 10 shots.

Lynbrook visits first-place Cold Spring Harbor on Friday before hosting Carle Place on Saturday.