Cold Spring Harbor cruises to Nassau Class D girls lacrosse title
Cold Spring Harbor celebrates its victory over Carle Place at the Class D Nassau girls lacrosse final on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The Cold Spring Harbor girls lacrosse program doesn’t lose often, but when it does, it sticks with the Seahawks.
Top-seeded Cold Spring Harbor won its sixth straight county championship with a 16-4 victory over No. 2 Carle Place in the girls lacrosse Nassau Class D championship at Adelphi on Tuesday night. But for the Seahawks, leaving Long Island hasn’t been their problem in recent years. It’s what happens after.
Cold Spring Harbor hasn’t lost a postseason game on Long Island since 2017. The Seahawks went on to win the Long Island championship four of those years and they won the 2021 Long Island Class D championship with no state tournament to follow due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But they haven’t won a state title since 2019.
“It’s been in the back of our head for sure,” said Ryan Reynolds, who had six goals on Tuesday. “Knowing that feeling of getting on the bus last year after not fulfilling what we hoped for all season really hurt. We’re not going to end that way this season.”
Cold Spring Harbor (14-4) advances to play Babylon (10-7) in the Long Island Class D championship/Southeast Regional Final at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Longwood High School. Carle Place finished at 9-9. Cold Spring Harbor led 11-1 at halftime on Tuesday.
The Seahawks’ last two postseasons ended without a state final appearance, falling in the state semifinals both years. Last season, Cold Spring Harbor fell to Skaneateles, 6-5.
“That’s what we strive for every time we get on the field, just to get better,” said Maya Soskin, who saved nine of the 10 shots on goal she faced. “I think winning the state championship would be a dream and we’ve all been working so hard every day to make it come true.”
Maggie Spehr had two goals and three assists, Amelia Bentley had a goal and three assists and Ruby Spielberger added four goals for Cold Spring Harbor.
The Seahawks returned 10 of 12 starters from last year’s team and none of them have forgotten that feeling of boarding the bus from Cortland after a loss.
“Last year everyone talked about how they were sophomores on the field in the state championships and we kind of got sick of hearing it at a certain point,” coach Danielle Castellane said. “I think we’re over the whole, ‘We’re too young, we’re too old,’ or the type of experience we have. These girls have been here before, they know what it takes and they are ready.”