Alexandra Aievoli's 100th goal keys win for Calhoun lacrosse
Alexandra Aievoli, left, celebrates after her goal put Calhoun up 8-3 in a Nassau Conference II girls lacrosse game against Carle Place in Merrick on Monday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Alexandra Aievoli remembers being an impressionable freshman and witnessing her teammate Maggie Araneo scoring her 100th varsity goal. That moment had a profound effect on her.
“I always thought it was really cool and I was like, ‘Maybe when I’m a senior, I’ll be able to get it,’ ” Aievoli said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to reach, ever since I was a freshman.”
On Monday, Aievoli did just that when she scored her 100th varsity goal as a part of a seven-goal effort to lead host Calhoun to a 14-6 victory over Carle Place in a Nassau Conference II girls lacrosse game.
Aievoli knew she needed four goals to reach the milestone. When she scored her fourth goal by firing a shot on the run to give Calhoun an 8-3 lead with 4:06 left in the second quarter, it was just as much a relieving moment as a celebratory one.
“I was excited,” Aievoli said. “I’ve been working on it for four years since my freshman year on varsity, so it’s definitely a relief that now I don’t have to be working toward it the whole season. Now I can just have fun.”
Alexandra Aievoli of Calhoun shoots and scores on Carle Place goalkeeper Emily Lopes during a Nassau Conference II girls lacrosse game in Merrick on Monday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Scoring goals and winning games can provide ample fun. Calhoun (5-1, 3-0) scored the game’s first two goals and opened a 5-2 lead after the first quarter before taking an 8-4 lead at halftime.
But Calhoun was in a similar situation last game and wanted to learn from its mistakes. The Colts led MacArthur, 5-2, on Friday, but the game went into overtime before Calhoun escaped with a 6-5 victory.
“We knew they could come back,” Aievoli said. “So everyone realized we had to get ahead of them and then we did and we just kept it going.”
Tess McGuire had two goals and an assist and Cara Buglione and Tessa Gerrard each added two goals. Ava Gomes and Tyler Reedy each had two goals for Carle Place (1-4, 0-4).
Aievoli also had two assists as she scored or assisted on 64.3% of Calhoun’s goals.
“She’s always been such a strong, aggressive player and plays with such confidence,” coach James Raucci said. “She’s fun to watch.”
The senior midfielder didn’t want to take all the credit.
“It really wasn’t all me,” Aievoli said. “My teammates found me really well. I felt strong, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
Aievoli posed with coaches and teammates postgame with a “100” sign for her accomplishment.
“I’ve been working toward the 100 goals for a little while, so once I got it, I think I got my groove going,” she said. “I knew I needed four goals to get it today. I wasn't really expecting it, but I knew it was possible.”
