Pearl River Girls Lacrosse Features Depth, Talent

The Pearl River girls lacrosse team featured Division I recruits the last two seasons, winning a Section 1 championship two years ago and making the semifinals last season.

This year's Pirates do not have a Maddie Wilson or Kiera McMullan, but they have depth, talent and experience after losing only four seniors from 2012.

"We don't have superstars," Pearl River Head Coach Laurie Mayernik said. "We have really, really good lacrosse players right across the board.

"I'm really excited about this team. Win, lose or draw, I'm excited about this team."

Pearl River returns most of a defense anchored by senior goalie Delia White.

"Having Delia back htere is like an assistant coach in the goal," Mayernik said. "Her ability to see the ball faster and faster every year is just unbelievable. She's a great goalie. It makes my life much easier."

Senior Kelly Guerci is moving back to join the Jamie Bosco and Aileen Burke on defense.

"(Bosco and Burke) are our low defenders. They and Delia are the anchors," Mayernik said. "The defense should be good."

Mayernik said the team should be faster than it was a year ago in the midfield, where sophomore Maggie Davin and senior Caitlin Noonan are among the returning impact players.

"Maggie is a special kind of player," Mayernik said. "She's very coachable, but she also sees everything. Last year, we didn't know what we'd get as a freshman coming up to the varsity, but she solidified herself from the get-go. She excelled all season, then went down with an ankle (injury), but played the game of her season against Nyack in sectionals with an ankle the size of a beach ball."

The Pirates do have to find a way to replace the offensive production of McMullan, now a freshman at Notre Dame. Senior Jessica Mayernik is the top returning attacker. Freshman Kayla Moreau, who was the first 8th grader Coach Mayernik had ever had on the varsity, will also provide offensive along with Shannon Reichert and Courtney Ocasal.

Along with Moreau, Lindsey Stephens is another freshman who could make an impact this season.

Coach , said she likes the chemistry she sees with this team.

"This is a special team," Mayernik said. "Thyey really like each other. They were connected already the first week of practice. It's definitely a different feel. Last year, they came in feeling 'Can we live up to the standard of the year before?' We came close. We had an awesoem team. This year, we're having fun and getting the job done."