Dream season for Valley Stream

The best parts about Valley Stream District’s push for the Nassau Conference V girls’ lacrosse title, coach Jessica Ricotta said, are senior leadership and a myriad of key contributors all over the field.

“We’ve improved in every skill aspect and the girls have great camaraderie,” Ricotta said after last Saturday’s 17-3 victory at Roosevelt brought her team one step closer to a conference championship. “They’re literally coming from four different schools but all season they’ve shown how committed they are to one another,” she added. 

If Valley Stream (12-1 overall, 8-0 in conference games) can knock off Sewanhaka in the finale, it’ll fulfill its goal. It would be especially satisfying for Ricotta, who played four varsity seasons in the program, graduated Valley Stream Central in 2006, and coached the 11 seniors on this year’s squad when they were in seventh grade. “Winning a conference championship has been a dream of mine since I played,” the third-year varsity coach said. “It’s looking good, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

While there are many reasons for the team’s success, Ricotta believes the defense ranks at the top of the list. Last spring, despite winning 10 games, Valley Stream allowed double digits in goals six times. This year, it’s only happened once — in an 11-7 non-conference loss to Elmont on April 5. “Our defense has stepped up in a big way,” said Ricotta, who counts on senior Dana Schimmenti and sophomores Catherine Rivera and Amanda Shaukat to do most of the heavy lifting in the back. “They communicate and work so well together,” Ricotta noted.

Schimmenti is the key to the zone, the coach said. “Dana follows the ball and applies the pressure,” Ricotta said. “She creates a lot of turnovers.”

Senior goaltender Caitlyn Lopek has over 100 saves, including 16 in the biggest win of the campaign, a 6-5 overtime decision over Kennedy on April 10. “Everyone trusts and confides in Caitlyn,” Ricotta said. “When she allows a goal, it only motivates her more. She’s a great stopper and gets us going in transition with long clears.”

The offense attacks from all angles and has no shortage of weapons, starting with senior Audrey D’Aulisa. She had the OT winner against Kennedy and last Saturday produced her second seven-goal game of 2018 and upped her total on the season to 48. She scored more than 50 a year ago while earning a second straight All-Conference award. Junior Isabella Morales has 26 goals. Sophomore Emily Soldatic (14 goals) emerged as the roster’s biggest surprise, Ricotta said, and senior Kathleen Kearney has a team-leading 25 assists. 

Ricotta said it didn’t take long for freshman Natalie Mendoza to become a major piece to the puzzle. The young midfielder is handling almost all the draws, leading the transition offense and showing the ability to put the ball in the cage (14 goals) or set up teammates (13 assists.)

  “We set a goal from the beginning to finish in first place and they’ve stayed positive and motivated while keeping their eyes on the prize,” Ricotta said.