Season Wrap Up: Pirates Girls Lacrosse

The Pearl River Pirates entered their season with seven seniors in their starting lineup. Although the experience is a good thing—well, a great thing—it can sometimes be a bit tricky working with such a senior laden team.

“You know it is actually tough sometimes,” said Coach Laurie Mayernik. “Seniors have a lot on their mind during the spring. Exams, looking forward to college, senioritis, prom and that silly little St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”

Entering the season the Pirates had high hopes and planned on using a combination of athleticism and experience to reach their goals. What were their goals? A successful season, winning the league and winning sections. They won the league and then sections.

“The girls set their own goals. We sit down before the season and talk things out," Mayernik said. "They all discuss their individual goals and decide on that. As far as team goals, I tell them I’ll take them as far as they want me to and they set the goals.

“It is always nice to set goals for the season and enter it with confidence but until the players hit the field; the season is just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Athletic teams often enter a season with confidence, set goals and can’t imagine falling short of them. That’s all well and good but performing, day in and day out, and actually realizing the goal is much harder than expected. Sometimes teams need that confirmation that the confidence is warranted.

“For us this year I think the second Nyack game was a turning point," Mayernik said. "They beat us at home earlier in the year. The next game meant a lot. It was under the lights and it was a very close, emotional victory. That win really got us going in the right direction.”

Despite all of their success, the Pirates season did end in a 16-7 loss at the state Class C semifinals. This Pirate team was the first to win sections. They then went on to beat Albany Academy in impressive fashion in the regional finals and became the first team in the program's history to play in the state's final four.

“They were just extremely fast," Mayernik said. "We started out a bit slow to feel things out, the game went to the half 6-4 and it was a close game. Things just didn’t go our way out there after that. It was a more physical game and our girls got banged around a bit but there was still no excuse. If we played them 10 times, we could have split with them. On that day, they were better.”

Seven of the Pirates starters will graduate this season but the Pirates have plenty to be optimistic about moving forward. Kiera McMullan has already reached 100 career goals. Delia White has a year of starting and having success in the goal under her belt which should translate into even more confidence next year. Jessica Mayernik and Allison Cook also have a nose for the goal look to make an even bigger impact next year.

“Leadership played a huge role in our success this year," Mayernik said. "We had captains out there on the field who really took control and other seniors who knew how to keep the team composed. You can’t be in the company of such strong seniors and not have something rub off on you. Their desire, dedication and commitment to our team was infectious and our girls will step up next year.”

Despite coaching the successful team in Pearl River girls’ lacrosse, there was something a little upsetting to Coach Mayernik and their sesason ending loss has nothing to do with it.

“You know coaching spring sports is much different in my opinion," Mayernik said. "When the season ends in the winter or fall, you know you’re going to see your kids around. Spring sports are different. We spend 40 hours a week together as we approached the end of our season. So much focus and hard work goes into the season and that makes us a family. My seniors won’t have any more school and I won’t be seeing them around much. It is what it is, we’re family and I’ll always remember this team.”

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