Thursday, October 1, 2026
The opening goal notwithstanding, Massapequa chased the scoreboard throughout Sunday’s Long Island Class A girls’ lacrosse championship and couldn’t quite overcome Huntington.
The youthful Chiefs rallied but fell short for a second straight spring to the Blue Devils, falling 9-6 at Stony Brook University in a rematch of last year’s LIC.
“I’m super proud of the fact the girls didn’t give up,” Massapequa co-coach Megan Protano said. “Emily Fitzgerald in goal was tremendous and kept us in it. We made a few halftime adjustments and the girls fought to the very end and gave us a real chance.”
Fitzgerald and Huntington’s Juliet Johnson, both sophomores, were nothing short of spectacular in goal with multiple point-blank saves each. Fitzgerald made 10 saves; Johnson 15.
“Both goalies were unbelievable,” Protano said. “Both have a great future.”
The Chiefs, with only three seniors on the roster, trailed by as many as five on several occasions, including 75 seconds into the second half when Jolie Weinschreider gave Huntington an 8-3 lead.
“At halftime we talked about getting a fresh start in the second half,” Protano said. “We gave them a different look on defense and won some draws that really helped.”
A defense led by junior Peyton Wildes and sophomores Keira Felker and Emma Ferguson dialed up the pressure and Emily Fitzgerald was a wall for the next 22 minutes after Weinschreider’s goal.
Senior Savanna Appleton set up sophomore Keira Szwejkowski’s goal with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter to provide Massapequa (15-4) with some momentum that carried into the fourth.
Appleton (two goals and two assists) and sophomore Ava Macri both scored their second goals of the game in a span of a minute in the fourth quarter. Macri’s tally off a feed from senior Grace Hoffman came with 7:30 remaining in regulation and cut the deficit to 8-6.
The Chiefs were inches to closing within one. Johnson made one crucial save with five minutes remaining and saw two shots get by her but clang off the post and out.
Leighton Evans scored with 58.5 seconds left to seal the deal for the Blue Devils.
“We’re a young team that’s losing three major seniors,” said Protano, referring to Appleton, Hoffman and Kali Humman. “That’s three big pieces but we’re hoping to be back here next season.”
Natalie Byrns and Olivia LoGuidice grabbed six draw controls each for Massapequa.
Appleton finished the campaign with 65 goals and 51 assists to rank second in Nassau County in scoring. Hoffman had 38 goals and 44 assists, and Macri had 48 goals.
