Dozo, Mary Louis players make All-City team

By Joseph Staszewski

It was one of the most competitive seasons in recent years in New York City girls’ lacrosse.

Tottenville held off Curtis in a four-overtime thriller for its second consecutive PSAL Class A title. Riverdale was again the city’s top club behind star Lindsay Picard, but suffered a tight loss to unbeaten Hackley in the NYSAISAA semifinals. Mary Louis fell for the second straight year in the CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk Class A title game and James Madison captured the PSAL Class B title.

All-City girls Lacrosse Player of the Year: Lindsay Picard, Riverdale

Playing much of the year with a slight tear in her hamstring, the senior midfielder scored 71 goals and finished with 20 assists to lead Riverdale to a second-place finish in the Ivy Prep League and a berth in the NYSAISAA semifinals, where it lost to eventual unbeaten champion Hackley.

Picard shined in the biggest moments. She scored seven times, including the winner, against Fieldston in double overtime and had the tying score late to defeat Poly Prep in comeback fashion in the NYSAISAA quarterfinals.

All-City girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Leonard Hession, Tottenville

Unlike last season, the second-year coach didn’t watch the Pirates cruise to the PSAL Class A title. Tottenville was tested often, dealt with a difficult-to-stomach loss to rival Curtis and grinded out multiple overtime wins throughout the season. Those included a four-overtime affair in the final to claim its second straight crown. It was Hession’s calmness, confidence and yet demanding style that helped pull the Pirates through.

FIRST TEAM

M Maria Cacciapuoti, Tottenville

Considered one of the hardest workers and most respected players on the team, the junior burst onto the scene this season. Cacciapuoti tallied 59 goals and nine assists as Tottenville won its second straight PSAL Class A title.

M Chloe Chasanoff, Fieldston

The sophomore was a scoring machine, pouring in 79 goals. Her finest performance came in a nine-goal effort to lead the Eagles to an upset of Long Island Lutheran in the NYSAISAA quarterfinals.

M/A Carly Chierico, Cardozo

One of the most accomplished players in Judges history, she led the program to one of its best seasons this spring. The senior scored 40 goals and added 17 assists as the team’s leading scorer.

M Jessica Dahldorf, Poly Prep

The Northwestern-bound star continued to show why she is one of the city’s top talents. Dahldorf kept a young Poly Prep team in the upper echelon of the Ivy Prep League thanks to her 62 goals and 22 assists.

M Erin Gibbons, Staten Island Academy

The senior was the city’s most prolific offensive weapon with 87 goals and 24 assists. Gibbons found the back of the net 10 times in a win over Curtis and totaled six goals in the Tigers’ AAIS championship game win over Chapin.

A Madeline Hopper, Riverdale

The sophomore continues to be one of the five borough’s most athletic and dynamic scorers. Hopper complied a remarkable 84 goals to go along with nine assists. Her finest moment was a seven-goal showing in an impressive win over Poly Prep.

M Anna McGovern, Mary Louis

What made McGovern so unique is the impact she had on both sides of the midfield for TMLA, which made a return trip to the CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk Class A title game. She was the team’s fiercest defender and scored 58 goals to lead the offense.

A/M Taylor O’Gara, Curtis

The senior was so dynamic she earned game MVP honors in the PSAL Class A championship game loss to Tottenville and also won the PSAL’s Wingate Award, given to the top senior in each sport. O’Gara, who will play at Robert Morris, scored a city-leading 98 goals and notched 17 assists.

G Deirdre O’Hara, Staten Island Academy

The senior keeper enjoyed her best season in net, sporting a 59.1 save percentage. O’Hara was instrumental to the Tigers capturing the AAIS and Staten Island League title and had nine saves in a win over Chapin and 17 more as SIA topped PSAL Class A champion Tottenville.

M Victoria Orlick, Tottenville

It was Orlick’s double overtime goal, her fourth of the game, that earned Tottenville its second straight PSAL Class A title. The super-athletic senior midfielder pumped in 55 goals and dished out seven assists.

M Moriam Soetan, Midwood

The lightning-quick senior was one of the city’s most prolific scorers. She found the back of the net 60 times to go along with 15 assists to help Midwood reach the PSAL Class A semifinals.

HONORABLE MENTION

M Sam Avis, Staten Island Academy

M Linhen Beltran, Midwood

D Nicole Bongiovi, Mary Louis

M Isabella Bertagna, Riverdale

G Sydney Bryant, Fieldston

M Chantell Chimbo, Long Island City

M Sam Domurat, Poly Prep

M Courtney Gallagher, Beach Channel

D/M Tierra Holmes, Beach Channel

M Jasmine Fermin, James Madison

M Nicole O’Gara, Curtis