Playoff success for Lynbrook

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Lynbrook used offensive balance from its top four scorers and a lot of Hope to advance beyond the first round of the Nassau girls’ lacrosse playoffs for a third consecutive season and for the 12th time under 15-year coach Vincent Tetro.

The No. 7 Lady Owls planned an early start that beat the severe weather May 15 and got four goals apiece from freshman Jenna Hendrickson and sophomore Elizabeth Murphy, along with 18 saves from senior goalie Hope Germanakos, to beat No. 10 Bethpage, 14-7, in a Class C opening round matchup on the turf at Marion Street Elementary.

Hendrickson and Murphy both added one assist, while senior Sophia LoCicero (three goals) and junior Casey Kaplan (two goals) chipped in four points apiece as Lynbrook evened its overall record to 8-8.

“We came out on fire and had a tremendous first half,” said Tetro, whose team built a 9-1 lead. “We have the potential to play at that level every game. We won all the draws, moved the ball really well and our defense and goalie played amazing.”

The game’s biggest moment came with just a few minutes remaining when Germanakos, a four-year starter, made her 500th career save. The All-County stopper was presented with the ball after the game and congratulated by teammates. “Hope has been great for us every year, but this year she took her talents to another level,” Tetro said. “She really put it all together against strong competition and with a young defense going through growing pains in front of her. 

“Bethpage had a ton of free position shots, pretty much one-on-one chances, and Hope shut the door,” Tetro added. “There’s nothing she can’t do. She can stop the high shots, the low shots, deflect passes, you name it.”

Junior Jessica Woll and sophomore Lena Weinkauf led the in-close defense, and senior Gina Giovinco continued her longtime role as a game-changing defender in the midfield.

LoCicero, a two-time All-County selection who has 29 goals and 13 assists, and Hendrickson (40 goals) controlled the midfield and dominated faceoffs. “Sophia has taken on a huge leadership role as a senior and never comes off the field,” Tetro said of LoCicero, who is headed to East Carolina. “She basically runs the offense and is a big part of the defense.”

Hendrickson, who caught the coach’s eye right away when practice began in early March, scored twice in her varsity debut and hasn’t slowed down. “Jenna’s been phenomenal,” Tetro noted. “She dodges really well and has an unbelievable shot.”

On attack, Murphy (36 goals, 20 assists) is a well-rounded lefty who’s steadily raised her game as the season unfolded, Tetro said. She had a five-goal effort against Hewlett. Kaplan has 17 goals and 20 assists.

Of the Lady Owls’ last eight regular-season games, five were decided by one goal starting with a 9-8 win over Carle Place on April 28. “I thought beating Carle Place put us on the right track in the conference and gave the girls confidence,” Tetro said.