Thursday, May 22, 2025
The East Meadow girls’ lacrosse team lost nine seniors to graduation, but they didn’t lose Kayla Lederer and Jaelyn Zabala.
The dynamic midfield duo of Lederer-Zabala has been a blur on the lacrosse pitch, combining for 41 goals as East Meadow has already officially clinched a playoff berth off a 6-2 conference clip.
That’s a big deal because East Meadow got shut out of the playoffs last season despite a 9-2 record under the quirky Conference 3 rules. With the revision in playoff qualification, East Meadow is in.
. “I was a little nervous because of how many key players we lost, but seeing how well our chemistry is, how we push each other, on the field and outside, that’s pushed us to do well this season,’’ Zabala said. “As the season continues, I see us doing better and better.’’
Zabala scored the game-winning goal in its huge 10-9 overtime victory over conference power Hicksville last Friday. Lederer started the game-winning play, bolting down the field in transition and feeding Crystal Cruz. She passed to Zabala, who dodged through a couple of defenders and rammed it in.
“The girls went crazy,’’ coach Nicolette Tortorici said.
Zabala, a senior, has a team-leading 22 goals and 15 assists.
“They work very well together,’’ Tortorici said. “Just her speed, also (she’s) very aggressive when she has the ball. She knows what she wants to do with it and plays with poise, control and a lot of grit.’’
“What really works is my teammates set me up to be able to score so well,’’ Zabala said. “Not only just me (but) our midfielders are extremely fast and push fastbreaks.’’
A junior, Lederer (19 goals, 7 assists) possesses the most pure speed. “It’s just how well she hustles up and down the field.,’’ Tortorici said. “She’s extremely fast and hardly anyone is able to stop her in transition. She gets past every single person.’’
The offense’s stabilizer is junior attacker Cruz. “She made a huge impact,’’ Tortorici said. “She’s our safest player on our attacking end. It looks like everyone tries to get her the ball to settle down.’’
Meanwhile, freshman lefty attacker Ariana Facenda has “surprised all of us,’’ the coach said. “She’s a lefty and we’re using it to our advantage in sets,’’ Tortorici said. “There’s not many lefties in lacrosse.’’
On defense, the star is sophomore Kate Barnett, cited for her lacrosse IQ. “She’s caused a ton of turnovers,’’ Tortorici said.
Junior Zoe Orlando and senior Shauna Gregorio also have played hard-nosed defense in front of goalie Alissa Mili, the school’s salutatorian who is weaving a big year with 70 saves and counting.
“We’ve been able to win overtime games under pressure,’’ Tortorici said. “If they can handle pressure in playoff season, we have a chance to make a run.’’
