Thursday, October 1, 2026
Huntington girls’ lacrosse defeated Massapequa in the Long Island Class A Championship at Adelphi University June 2.
The Blue Devils, the Suffolk County champions, never trailed against the Chiefs, who fought back in the fourth quarter but ultimately went down in a 12-8 defeat.
“This means everything to us,” Huntington coach Katie Reilly said. “Those girls really give their heart, their soul, everything they’ve got down to the last minute. To keep going, we’re going to need to rest, but I think they’re still pumped. At this point, we’re just giving everything we have.”
Most of Huntington’s offensive production throughout the game came in two massive pushes in the first and third quarters. Blitzing an unprepared Massapequa defense, the Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first four minutes, consistently retaining possession in an all-out barrage. Massapequa eventually managed to contain them, but the Chiefs struggled to score themselves with limited chances. They trailed 6-1 at halftime.
Freshman goalie Emily Fitzgerald made several key saves to keep Massapequa within striking range, but the odds were stacked against her again in the second half. With the help of two penalties and multiple stoppages, Huntington scored another four goals in the final six minutes of the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead.
Massapequa attackers Grace Hoffman and Paige Garguilo scored early goals in the fourth to get the Chiefs back in contention, and another rally late in the game got them within three. Huntington, clearly showing signs of fatigue after smothering their rivals through three quarters, were flagging but had just enough left. The Blue Devils successfully chewed several crucial minutes of game time in the closing stages, and an empty-net goal by attacker Devon St. John cemented Huntington’s first Long Island Championship since 1995.
Huntington midfielders Jolie Weinschreider and Valentina Puccio scored hat tricks in the championship, leading the Blue Devils in both offensive rallies that went on to decide the game. St. John and Sabrina Boyle each scored twice, applying constant pressure that kept Massapequa on the back foot. With another formidable rival out of the way, the Blue Devils will travel to Lakeland High School for the regional championship this weekend.
In the game that ended their season, the Chiefs struggled to make up ground but did not go quietly. Fitzgerald’s performance under pressure in goal was admirable, while Garguilo and Hoffman led a last-gasp comeback bid that might have turned the tables with more time. Garguilo was one of many seniors who fought to the last in their final high school lacrosse game.
“I’m just beyond proud of them,” Massapequa coach Brendan Gaghan said. “This group of seniors, they’re the leaders. They worked so hard all year. I couldn’t be prouder of them. They’re the glue of the team and kept everyone together. Just working through now, finding who’s going to step up next. They have big shoes to fill.”
