Thursday, October 1, 2026
The legend of MacArthur goalkeeper Lexie Thompson was further elevated in last Saturday’s Long Island Class A finals against Shoreham-Wading River.
Thompson, who has surrendered just one goal all season, recorded her 15th shutout with 11 saves in a 1-0 victory over the Suffolk County Class A champions to propel MacArthur to its first Long Island title since 2011. The standout netminder has been making spectacular diving stops all season and did so multiple times on the big stage against the Wildcats to send MacArthur into the state Class A semifinals this Saturday against Albertus Magnus at Tompkins Cortland Community College.
“That was everyday Lexie, not rising to the occasion Lexie,” said first-year MacArthur coach Steve Costello of how Thompson has consistently stepped up this season to keep teams off the scoreboard. “She is the best high school goalie around here that anybody will ever see.”
Junior Sara Kealey gave MacArthur the only offense it would need thanks to Thompson’s heroics when she scored just 11:32 into the first half from about 20 yards away after a Shoreham-Wading River failed clear attempt.
Shoreham-Wading River blitzed MacArthur with a number of first half scoring chances including two breakways where Thomson came out of the net to thwart and a diving save with 16 minutes left. With 12 minutes left she made another diving save followed soon after by another spectacular stop to deflect a close-range shot out of bounds.
In the second half, Thompson once again stepped up big, deflecting a shot just wide of the net with 16 minutes left.
“There is no feeling like it,” said Thompson, who one week earlier made five saves in a 5-0 win against Garden City that gave MacArthur its first county title since 2019. “Everybody is so happy and so excited and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Thompson, who has started in net since her sophomore season, has recorded a program record 31 shutouts in her storied career. She credits the play of her backline in front of her featuring Hallie Bray, Ava Angiuli, Caitlin Barry, and Meghan Wetzel with helping produce shutouts in 15 of 16 games.
The Generals now march on to the state semifinals against Rockland County’s Albertus Magnus, who knocked off Vestal 4-0 in a state regional Friday. A win Saturday would give MacArthur a crack at its first state title in 11 years Sunday versus the winner of the other semifinal match between Spencerport and New Hartford.
MacArthur is embracing her championship experience a year and a half after suffering a heartbreaking overtime defeat to South Side in the 2020 Class A finals played during the spring of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thompson said the close relationships she has forged with her teammates makes the chance to extend her high school career upstate that much more meaningful.
“I’m just excited to get two more games with them,” she said. “The story's not over and we just have to write it.”
