Saturday, May 24, 2025
The North Shore girls’ lacrosse team has a new coaching staff and new method of team bonding.
Last weekend, the Vikings took a road trip to Boston, hoping to accomplish three things: 1. Play a non-league match versus Natick High (Mass.), 2. Watch former Vikings star Kylee Colbert play for Boston College. 3. Unite as a team.
Two of the three goals were accomplished. The match against Natick was snowed out but the girls got to see Colbert and her BC Eagles defeat Virginia during which the college freshman scored two goals. And, lastly, the Vikings got to further their friendships. They plan on future trips next season.
“We had the greatest time ever,’’ co-coach Julianna Keenan said. “It will help us down the road.’’
Keenan and Michele O’Brien, assistants last season, took over the helm in 2025, replacing Jaclyn Stevens.
“It wasn’t like we had to start fresh,’’ said Keenan, in charge of the offense’s X’s and O’s. “Michele and I get along amazing. She’s more basketball than a lacrosse person but she’s good with the life lessons and we bounce off each other well.’’
North Shore’s 0-4 start is not shocking. The Vikings play in the super conference in which all the schools automatically qualify for the playoffs.
Last season, the Maroon posted a 6-12 record – 1-10 in the super conference. They advanced to the Nassau County Class C semifinals.
“The reason we are going to be successful in the end and steal some games is we play the best teams in Nassau,’’ Keenan said. “We don’t have a lot of kids playing all-year-round. But we have team chemistry. I’ve been with a million teams. I’ve never seen a team with this much chemistry.’’
Including Cobert, North Shore graduated seven seniors. “We have a lot of gaps to fill this year,’’ Keenan said.
North Shore is buoyed by a freshman Natalie Yoo, who had 22 points as an 8th grader and already has 18 in 2025.
Another gleaming star is senior two-way midfielder Ally Basile (7 points, 12 caused turnovers, 13 groundballs). “She is one of our greatest defensive assets and does all the dirty work,’’ Keenan said. .
Erin Lily La Rosa, a junior midfielder, recorded 29 points last season and has 22 points so far 14 draw controls. Her work ethic has endeared her to the coaches. “Erin Lily is the hardest-working player on the field,’’ Keenan said..
Sophomore midfielder Lila Archer has 8 points, team-leading 18 caused turnovers, 20 groundballs and takes draws. “She does everything for us,’’ Keenan said.
Senior defender Elizabeth Aurre- is the stopper. “She consistently holds the other team’s greatest player to very low points,’’ Keenan said. “An exceptional one-on-one defender,’’ Keenan said.
The recent JV callup of freshman goalie, Charlotte Passuello, has aided a weak link. Indeed, North Shore’s youth is on display with a starting seventh grader in Aubrey Morales as midfielder and part-time starter, attacker Alexandra Lizza.
“We’re very heavy with underclassmen,’’ Keenan said.
North Shore has only three senior starters, including Sofia Della Ratta, the basketball star who sat out lacrosse in 2024.
North Shore’s best performance was a 10-9 loss to powerful Port Washington April 9. The following game, North Shore was no match for elite Garden City.
“In our conference, we don’t have the numbers and skill set as other teams so we have to play our best game to win,’’ Keenan said. “Every game we’re getting a lot better. We’re looking to make a good run in the playoffs when it will be the second time facing some teams.’’
