Cohen, DiSalvo lead Hewlett

Hewlett seniors Emily Cohen and Sam DiSalvo have been close friends and lacrosse teammates for a long time, and their chemistry on the field is an extension of how well they get along off it.

Next year they’ll be opponents on the collegiate level, with Cohen off to Binghamton and DiSalvo headed to Stony Brook on scholarships, but their immediate goal is to extend their careers in a Lady Bulldogs uniform. Hewlett is expected to draw a trip to Calhoun for a Nassau Class B first-round playoff game next Monday, when it’ll try to avenge a one-goal loss suffered on May 2.

“We’ve been friends since third grade,” said DiSalvo, who had six goals and one assist in a 14-11 victory at Baldwin in Monday’s regular-season finale. “It’s going to be strange next year when we play against each other. Emily’s such a smart player. She’s always making good decisions.”

After missing last season following knee surgery, DiSalvo has come back strong and enters the playoffs with back-to-back six-goal performances. Her last goal at Baldwin, which came with 5:50 remaining and gave the Lady Bulldogs a 13-9 advantage, was No. 50 on the year. “We really missed Sam last year,” Cohen said. “She’s a great player and teammate.”

While DiSalvo does a lot of catch-and-shoot damage, Cohen is a quintessential attack with an incredible initial burst. After scoring four times and picking up two assists at Baldwin, Cohen ranked atop the county in goals (65) and points (96), and second in assists. “Emily is so quick with her first step, I don’t think there’s a defender on Long Island that can stop her one-on-one,” Hewlett assistant coach Robyn Pastuch said.

Cohen has collected nine points on three separate occasions in 2014. She had seven goals and two assists against Seaford and South Side, and popped in nine goals against Long Island Lutheran. In addition, she’s had three eight-point games. “When Emily is on, you can’t stop her,” Pastuch said.

Pat Gormley, in his third year as Hewlett head coach and 20th overall, said Cohen and DiSalvo are the two most skilled players he’s ever coached. “These girls are that good,” he said. “I coached college lacrosse for two years, and their games are going to translate well to the next level.”

Hewlett (4-11) has also received offensive contributions from freshmen Kristen DiCicco and Kylie Halpern, junior Gabby Korin, and sophomore Olivia Epstein. DiCicco, who has 18 goals and takes the majority of draws, missed the Baldwin game but is expected to return to the lineup for the playoffs. Epstein had three goals at Baldwin — her second hat trick in three games — and scooped eight ground balls.

Defensively, seniors Allie May, Sammi Belluccia and Julie Korin have set the tone. Gormley said May is the toughest kid he’s ever coached.

“We’re losing a great group of seniors,” Gormley said.