Kennedy girls lacrosse is riding a four-game win streak, with victories against Floral Park, Baldwin, Hewlett and most recently last Friday over Carey.
In those four games, the Cougars have outscored opponents 59-27 and improved to 9-3 overall and 6-1 against Conference III rivals.
Senior Samantha Frank (31 goals), freshman Mia Monzidelis (also 31) and senior Jordana Wohlleben (29 goals, 21 assists) are proven goal scorers. Kennedy coach Mallory Freely says she wants everyone to be a threat.
“I think that’s the key to any really great team,” Freely said. “Losing that ability to say, ‘oh, we have to face-guard one kid;’ it’s a very hard strategy to come up with when you have seven threatening players. Kristen Lichtenstein is a left-handed senior and she just had a game-winner in quadrupel overtime against Floral Park. I’m loving how everyone’s rising to the challenge this year.”
Monzidelis had five goals and three assists in the 16-4 win over Carey. Freshman Lauren Blanshan added two goals and three assists, while Wohlleben put together a six-point night on two goals and four assists. Frank put together her fourth, 4+ goal night, with four in this one.
“For the past four seasons, [captains Frank and Wohlleben] have been go-to kids since their freshman year,” Freely said. “They have energy for days. Jordana especially, she never runs out of steam. They’re defensive and offensive. They have that hunger to score and they’re great leaders.”
Freshman goalie Daniella Diel has stood on her head throughout the season. The caveat is, she’s never played lacrosse until this spring. Freely coaches her in basketball, and thought, “she’d make a great goalie.”
Diel has taught herself the game by watching college games, and it’s translated well to the field. She recorded her 100th save in the win over Carey, where he stopped five shots. Her 15-save performance in an 8-5 win over New Hyde Park on March 26 is the most saves she’s made in her career.
“The girls worked very hard together from all aspects of field,” Freely said about the win over Carey. “Big defensive-caused turnovers and connecting the dots in transition really made our attack shine. They executed our pregame plan very well.”
Freshman Danielle Donoghue and eighth-grader Bree Frankel each recorded a goal inthe Cougars’ 19-9 win over Hewlett April 21. The young bucks have been contributing as well.
“They all just support and uplift each other,” Freely said. “The other day, before our game, we were like, ‘What do we need to do to make the playoffs?’ Kids never really bring that up to me in both sports until it starts getting closer down the line and the fact they want it and thinking of ways to help us get there is really impactful. I love hearing that they want to go to Conference II and that they want to challenge themselves.”
Kennedy is back in action at East Meadow May 6 at 5 p.m.
