Lions Roar In Second Half, Oust Sachem North Girls Lax From Suffolk County Class A Playoffs

After exhibiting the season's best performance from beginning to end in upsetting Commack in the first round of the Suffolk County Class A playoffs, the Sachem North girls lacrosse team needed an encore against vaunted West Islip to advance any further.

The first act was spectacular as the Flaming Arrows were all tied up with the draw's second seed at the half. However, the Lions sure roared after intermission, netting 11 goals on their way to a 16-6 victory and a berth in the semifinals.

North finished up its season at 9-9, having beaten Commack on Friday for its first postseason victory since 2004. Sachem had entered the season ranked 10th in the county and that's the playoff seed it drew.

"We took care of business in the beginning of the year, and peaked during the playoffs," North head coach Kevin Krause said. "That's how you want to do it every year."

The Arrows' senior class, which included this year's leading goal-scorer, Jess Pandolf, as well as Megan McNulty, Hannah Ednie, Stephanie Borchers, Jasmine Fuentes and Wendy Framson, isn't the largest crew the team's ever graduated, but the significant voids they leave will be difficult to fill next spring.

"It's only six players, but they're a huge core of our team," Krause said. "They were great leaders for us and are going to be tough to replace."

For a half, North was in it, at one point leading 4-2. Jenna Pierro got it to that point by scooping up a groundball in Sachem's defensive end, charging up the field and converting a fantastic give-and-go with Pandolf. It was part of a four-goal run, fueled by a pair of strikes from Kelly Kuerner - she had three on the day - and another from Nicole Dale. When West Islip drew even at 4, Pandolf's nifty pass to Kate Kuerner on the doorstep put North back ahead.

"I think we were still riding a bit of the emotion from the Commack game," Krause said. "I don't want to underplay that. That was big for us coming in. We played a great game in the first half, and in the second half, they controlled the pace of the game, won more draw controls, and we did our best to fight back."

The second half was a different story, even if the Arrows continued to put West Islip goalie Alyssa Costantino to the test. The Syracuse-bound senior was up to the task, making 12 saves between the pipes. Meanwhile, the Lions, who face No. 3 Bay Shore in the Class A semifinals on Wednesday, ripped off the first seven goals of the second half. The trio of Loren Ziegler, Devan Crimi and Stefani Jackson combined to score all but two of the Lions' 16 goals, with Ziegler leading the way with six and Crimi and Jackson connecting for four.

"Between the three of them, they spread the ball very well," Krause said. "They completed their passes and got easy lay-ups. And the goalie was exceptional. She's the best goalie we've played against this year."

Sachem brings back a strong corps, with Dale, Pierro, Kelly Kuerner and Allison Riss leading the attack. On defense, Erin McNulty will be back in goal, getting help from Kate Kuerner, Rachel Vasquez and Melanie Kahn.