The Section 1 girls lacrosse playoffs begin this weekend and, with the schedule and early-round matchups having been announced, girls lacrosse reporter Stephen Haynes offers his take on the brackets in each classification, along with some predictions.
As is the nature of sports and single-elimination tournaments, it’s almost impossible to make a perfect forecast. There likely will be some upsets, and the possibility exists of an underdog making a run. But, based on what we’ve learned throughout the regular season and how the teams are trending, let’s give this a try and have some fun.
Feel free to remind me when I’m wrong.
Class A
Best early-round matchup: No. 10 Lakeland/Panas vs. No. 7 Clarkstown South
The upset-minded team nobody wants to face: No. 5 Mamaroneck
Easiest draw: No. 3 Arlington
Tough-luck draw: No. 4 White Plains
Potential bracket breaker: No. 8 Ursuline
Stars who’ll shine in the tournament: Lucy Bevilacqua, Sr., M, Mamaroneck; Brooke Cameron, Jr., M, Wappingers; Cat DeAngelis, Sr., A, Ursuline; Michaela Fay, Sr., M, Suffern; Ava Feliciotto, Sr., A, Wappingers; Ana Galati, Jr., M, Clarkstown South; Ava Galati, Jr., M, Clarkstown South; Caitlyn Hyatt, Sr., M, White Plains; Aileen Keevins, Sr., M, Arlington; Gwen Mobilia, Sr., GK, Ursuline; Paige Pena, Sr., M/A, Ossining; Brooke Pizzarello, Sr., M, Lakeland/Panas; Sophia Rescigno, Jr., M/D, Arlington; Lauren Rogers, Jr., GK, White Plains; Nevin Sullivan, Sr., D/M, Suffern; Elizabeth Torres, Jr., M, Suffern; Kyla Zamprelli, Jr., GK, Clarkstown South
Who advances to the semifinals: No. 1 Suffern, No. 2 Wappingers, No. 3 Arlington, No. 5 Mamaroneck
And the winner is: Suffern doesn’t have the easiest route on paper, potentially having to go through a dangerous Ursuline squad that recently stunned Yorktown, and then possibly dealing with Mamaroneck and its high-powered offense in the semifinals. But the Mounties have a championship pedigree, reached the state final last season, and maybe the best defense in Section 1 in support of All-American offensive weapon Michaela Fay.
Class B
Best early-round matchup: No. 5 Mahopac vs. No. 4 Brewster
The upset-minded team nobody wants to face: Mahopac
Easiest draw: No. 3 Yorktown
Tough-luck draw: No. 2 Fox Lane
Potential bracket breaker: No. 6 Horace Greeley
Stars who’ll shine in the tournament: Harper Canell, Sr., A, Harrison; Gianna Cirelli, Sr., M/A, Mahopac; Casey Cummings, Sr., M/A, Nyack; Annie Cunneen, Jr., M, Yorktown; Violet DeLuca, Sr., M, Carmel; Lily Diaz, Jr., M, Yorktown; Lila Gilbart, So., A/M, Nyack; Abby Gould, So., M, Nyack; Ella Gould, Sr., M, Nyack; Michaela Kaltsas, Sr., A, Fox Lane; Ashley Koch, Sr., M, Mahopac; Gianna Limongello, Sr., M, Horace Greeley; Cora Moore, Sr., M, Fox Lane; Dylan New, So., M, Fox Lane; Grace Richards, Sr., M, Horace Greeley; Olivia Saccomanno, Fr., A/M, Brewster; Sydney Sateriale, So., A, Yorktown; Amelia Walsh, Sr., M Brewster
Who advances to the semifinals: No. 1 Nyack, No. 2 Fox Lane, No. 3 Yorktown, No. 5 Mahopac
And the winner is: Nyack really was only challenged once by a Section 1 opponent this season, having to eke out an overtime win over Rye, and these rivals now are in different classifications. Yorktown is incredibly talented and that could be their section final matchup, but the RedHawks had a six-goal win over them in April.
Class C
Best early-round matchup: No. 9 Pearl River vs. No. 8 Byram Hills
The upset-minded team nobody wants to face: No. 6 Somers
Easiest draw: No. 2 Pelham
Tough-luck draw: No. 3 Eastchester
Potential bracket breaker: No. 5 Tappan Zee
Stars who’ll shine in the tournament: Scarlett Amandola, Jr., A, Tappan Zee; Libby Block, Sr., A/M, Sleepy Hollow; Sofia Conner, 8th, M, Somers; Fin Degl, Jr., M, John Jay-Cross River; Mary Ebeling, Jr., A, Rye; Brooke Green, So., A, Pelham; Mairead Gowran, Sr., A/M, Ardsley; Courtney Hudak, Sr., M, Nanuet; Coco Inglis, So., A, John Jay-Cross River; Arden Keough, Sr., M, Pelham; Parker Koupal, Sr., A, Pelham; Caitlyn Mayfield, Jr., M, Somers; Olivia Milaccio, Sr., M, Eastchester; Maddy Murray, So., M, Eastchester; Carleigh Ortiz, Jr., M, Hen Hud; Claire Pritts, So., M, Pearl River; Paige Tepedino, Sr., M, Rye; Annie Toulouse, Sr., A, Rye; Lila Vincequerra, Jr., A, Byram Hills; Beau Whaling, Sr., A, Rye
Who advances to the semifinals: No. 1 Rye, No. 2 Pelham, No. 4 John Jay-Cross River, No. 6 Somers
And the winner is: Excluding the showdown with Nyack, which they also could’ve won, Rye dominated local opponents and faced little opposition from Section 1 teams, even those in larger classifications. The Garnets defense allowed only American Heritage (Florida) and Nyack to eclipse nine goals, and their own offense is clicking now, averaging 18.3 goals per game. This group is brimming with confidence, and a state tournament run is within their abilities.
Class D
Best early-round matchup: No. 11 Pawling vs. No. 6 Putnam Valley
The upset-minded team nobody wants to face: No. 7 Bronxville
Easiest draw: No. 1 Pleasantville
Tough-luck draw: No. 6 Putnam Valley
Potential bracket breaker: No. 5 North Salem
Stars who’ll shine in the tournament: Faith Brown, Jr., M, Pleasantville; Ashley Cindrich, Sr., A, North Salem; Isabella Coletti, Jr., M, Putnam Valley; Ella Collins, Sr., A, Pleasantville; Lila Dumas, Sr., GK, Briarcliff; Nicky Einhorn, Sr., M, Briarcliff; Alexis Diaz, Jr., M, Albertus Magnus; Bridget Doherty, Sr., M, Dobbs Ferry; Georgina Janos, Sr., A, Briarcliff; Julie Karaqi, So., M, Pleasantville; Scarlett Kilroe, Fr., A, Dobbs Ferry; Tatum Korpi, Sr., M, Blind Brook; Nina Muller, Rye Neck; Charlotte Murray, Sr., A, Bronxville; Katelyn Quinlan, Jr., M, Croton-Harmon; Kayla Ruggiero, Sr., A/M, Haldane; Samantha Schultz, Fr., M, Pleasantville; Demetra Sofos, So., M, Croton-Harmon; Noemi Torres, Sr., M, North Salem; Mackenzie Wahl, Jr., M, Pawling; Rose Woolery, Sr., M, Bronxville
Who advances to the semifinals: No. 1 Pleasantville, No. 2 Briarcliff, No. 3 Rye Neck, No. 5 North Salem
And the winner is: Pleasantville dealt with injuries down the stretch and dropped its last three games in the regular season — granted, against other great teams. But, let us not forget the 13-0 start that secured them the top seed. The Panthers reached the Class D regional final last season, have most of that core still on the roster, and the steady improvement of sophomore Julie Karaqi and freshman Samantha Schultz makes them especially dangerous in the playoffs.
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Here’s a breakdown of the Section 1 girls lacrosse tournament brackets
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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