West Hempstead finishing strong

For the second straight season, a late rally by the West Hempstead girls’ lacrosse team will not result in a playoff spot.

Despite an impressive conference record and not losing consecutive games all season, the Rams (6-4-1, 6-2-1 Conference 4) will be on the outside looking in favor of other ‘D’ schools such as Cold Spring Harbor, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Carle Place. The team had won four of five before a gallant 12-9 loss at first-place Carey last Saturday.

West Hempstead finished the 2023 season with three straight wins and victories in four of its last five contests, but still fell one win shy of the playoffs.

Despite calling her team's situation “a bummer”, coach Suzanne Kenney saw plenty of positives from the season, including her young group of promising freshmen.

“I think [the season's] been fairly successful,” she said. “I think we continued to get better on both ends of the field and that's all you can hope for in a season like this.”

Sophomore Elizabeth Poirot has established herself as one of top young players on Long Island with 63 goals and 84 points this season after potting 45 goals last year. She beat Elmont in double overtime on April 4 and has had three seven-goal efforts, including all of West Hempstead's tallies in a loss at Mineola on April 11.

“She's been great,” Kenney said. “She has a great stick, she's a solid draw girl too and now this year we've even used her a little bit more in the midfield playing both ways. Her overall game has continued to grow and she knows how to find the back of the net.”

Ivana Jiminez surpassed the 30-goal mark in her final varsity season after netting four against Carey. She also had a seven-goal game in a win over Valley Stream District on April 15.

“She's such a strong athlete,” Kenney said. “Her power and her speed and her coordination in terms of going to the goal hard…you can't teach the athleticism that she has.”

The Rams also boast some promising young players in freshman Marisa Koller (12 goals), Willow Stern (six goals) and Alexa Rivera as well as sophomore Daniela Healy, who has two hat tricks among her nine goals.

Gianna Feglia has been a stalwart on defense who's adept at getting ground balls, with fellow senior Monica Poblador, junior Jade Altidor and Kerilee Vargas providing depth on the back end.

Junior Madison Cates (84 saves) played attack last year before volunteering to take over the vacated goalie position. She has gotten stronger as the season progressed and averaged under seven goals allowed in the four games prior to Saturday.

Senior Day is Wednesday against Clarke before the Rams finish up at home against Herricks on Friday. One win will match the seven they had a year ago.

“If we can compete like we did [against Carey], I think we can steal a game and that would certainly be a nice way to finish against the top of the league.”