Sports

Pearl River Girls Lacrosse Shifts Focus to States

Pearl River will play Albany Academy in the Regional Final 6 p.m. Saturday at Fox Lane High School

Pearl River girls lacrosse coach Laurie Mayernik took a scouting trip to see the Albany Academy Bears play Red Hook in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C Regional semifinals Wednesday.

Albany Academy (19-1) continued its dominating ways with a 13-5 victory, but that did not change Mayernik's assessment of Pearl River's chances when the Pirates (15-4-1) take on the Bears in the regional final 6 p.m.  Saturday at Fox Lane.

"They are a good team," Mayernik said. "They are strong. They have some really good shooters. They have three particular people we have to be concerned about.

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"I think we're going to beat them. The way my girls come out and play, they are very focused and confident. That's the way they have done it all year."

Mayernik's confidence in her team is nothing new. Her comments are not meant to slight an Albany Academy team that is currently ranked 11th in the state, just to express her faith in her own players. The Pirates won the first girls lacrosse title in school history to earn a by into Saturday's regional final.

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"For me to question if they can win, it's not something I'd do. I know they can win," Mayernik said of her team. "I don't know about comparisons. They looked good yesterday. They are strong, but I think that because of our strength of schedule, we have an advantage. I don't see them playing the Yorktowns. I know what we've done and our schedule was pretty hardcore."

Pearl River does have to adjust after focusing so much on the goal of the section title all season. The Pirates also have to get going again after a long layoff, having not played since the 15-10 victory over Pleasantville in the title game May 25. Pearl River scrimmaged Yorktown Thursday to help deal with the layoff.

"I'm glad we had the break," Mayernik said. "It gave them a little down time. I gave them a couple of days off. They got to enjoy their win, but by the same token, th is amount of time off from playing is tough. We have to regroup and get back into it. I'm pretty confident we can do that."

Pearl River has standouts of its own, including senior captains Maddie Wilson, Lauren Cook and Colleen Clark.

"We have phenomenal captains," Mayernik said. "My seniors have all been great leaders. They have taken it upon their shoulders."

Pearl River features a balanced offense anchored by Wilson, Cook and junior Kiera McMullan in the midfield.


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