V.S. lacrosse in playoffs

Though a conference title eluded Valley Stream by the slimmest of margins, there’s no denying it has been a banner year for the girls’ lacrosse program.

Led by its stellar midfield, Valley Stream capped an 11-win regular season in Conference V and clinched its first-ever playoff appearance with a 17-3 victory over Hewlett on May 10. Samantha Saad (five), Catherine Powell (four), Nicole Riggio (four) and Alexandra Troiano combined for 15 goals.

“It was senior day and we came out on fire,” coach Rafaela Nikas said. “The girls remembered Hewlett got the best of us last year.

“This is the best record we’ve ever had and first time we’re going to the playoffs,” she added. “It’s very exciting. Everyone has worked so hard.”

Some wins came easy, some took overtime, and one didn’t come at all. Though the positives outweigh the negatives by a landslide, Nikas said the team’s hard-fought 14-13 loss to eventual conference champion Mepham on April 27 still stings a little.

“It was crushing,” Nikas said of the first-place showdown decided on a goal by Mepham’s Cristina Olson with 1:34 remaining. “We were up by three at halftime and had it until the last few minutes. We got tentative late in the game and made a couple of mistakes that cost us.”

The outcome was an exception, not the rule. Valley Stream came back to win each of its last four games, averaging 16.5 goals in the process.

“I knew we had the make-up of a special team when we scrimmaged Hewlett in March,” said Nikas, who is assisted by Jessica Garabedian. “I saw how our seniors and juniors were nurturing the younger players. The chemistry was great instantly, on and off the field.”

On the field, opponents couldn’t keep pace with a midfield comprised of seniors Saad, Troiano and Stephanie Manta, and juniors Powell and Riggio. Each of the five pumped in at least 10 goals, with Powell netting 44, Saad 40 and Riggio 37. “We were solid everywhere, but the midfield carried us from end to end,” Nikas said. “They allowed us to control the flow of games.”

Valley Stream twice worked overtime for a victory. Troiano scored the game-winner to beat Sewanhaka, 14-13, and Saad scored twice in the first three-minute overtime session to help knock off Great Neck North, 16-14. “The girls showed what they were made of against Great Neck North,” Nikas said. “We blew a 9-3 halftime lead, but when push came to shove we stayed focused in overtime and got the win.”

Powell and Riggio each had a six-goal game along the way, while Saad scored five goals on three occasions. The defense in front of senior goaltender Krysten Ahearne was spearheaded by juniors Nicole Mercado and Shannen Mincey.

“It’s a super group of girls,” Nikas said. “They’re not only good lacrosse players, but they’re rock stars in the classroom.”