Great GC 5th Grade Sweetie swarming defense The Gray Sweeties 5th grade Girls Lacrosse team continued the 2007 season with games at West Islip last week and at home this past Sunday evening against Wantagh. The easy 9-5 victory over West Islip was followed by a heartbreaking 10-9 loss at home to a skilled Wantagh team.

The Sweeties started fast against West Islip and never looked back. The passing was crisp and the shots were low and hard as the Sweeties took an early lead. All of the Sweeties scoring occurred in the first half and it was spread around as seven different players scored. On attack Katherine Pearson, Kristen Rasquin, Caitlin Rieger and Taylor Will were aggressive to the ball and passed well. The middies Caitlin Mahland, Regan Marooney, Erin Pfail, Haley O'Hanlon, Kayla Murphy, Kelly Tierney, Alex Riceman, Alex Riceman and Meghan Mulhall were sharp through out the game, while Jacqueline O'Hare, Melanie McHugh Julia Dignam, Sage Fuller (who also played some goalie, as did Jackie O'Hare) and were all over the ground balls. The game was not as close as the final score seems to indicate, as the Sweeties were ahead 9-1 at the half and played three quarters of the game with the "three pass/no draw" rule in effect

The 5th Graders from GC Battle for the Ball vs West Islip The game versus Wantagh was a tight game from the start. Wantagh took an early 1-0 lead, but the Sweeties came right back to tie the game and it was a see-saw battle through the first half. Kelly Tierney got the Sweeties on the board after Melanie McHugh scooped a groundball and ran it up field before passing to Kristen Rasquin. Kristen fed Meghan Mulhall, who then assisted on Kelly's streak to the goal. Similarly, Katherine Malhame started a pretty passing play with Kayla Murphy, who assisted on Erin Pfail's goal. Regan Marooney was aggressive as well and earned an assist on Haley O'Hanlon's first goal. The mid-fielders included Regan Marooney, Kristen Rasquin, Julia Dignam, and Meghan Mulhall, with Taylor Will, Kristen Rasquin and Amanda Vione on attack. A goal on a free shot by Jamie Sweet made the score 4-3 at the half.

The GC Sweeties are on attack versus West Islip Offense wasn't the story of the game, however, as goalie Evan Molitor made at least four beautiful saves in the first half and had seven for the game. Wantagh used their speed and some skilled passing to gain quality opportunities. The defense, lead by Jacqueline O'Hare, Sage Fuller (first half) Melanie McHugh was strong on groundballs (6), as were Alex Riceman (4) and Julia Dignam (3). As midfielder, Sage Fuller opened the scoring in the second half for the Sweeties, and fellow middies Alex Riceman, Kayla Murphy, and Katherine Malhame also contributed goals.

Though the Sweeties lead 7-5 after three quarters, the lead didn't hold up. The finish was exciting, however, as the teams traded goals late in the game. With just less than three minutes left in the game, Haley O'Hanlon scored her second goal of the game to tie the score at 9-9, after a groundball and run by Kelly Tierney and a pretty assist by Erin Pfail. However, Wantagh scored with about 90 seconds left to seal the victory. It wasn't so easy, however, as the Sweeties put great pressure on the Wantagh defense, ultimately to fall short on this day despite a tremendous effort.

GC 5th Grade Sweeties surround the ball at West Islip The Sweeties next play at home on Mother's Day against a traditionally strong Farmingdale team, beginning at 4:30 at St. Paul's fields. The coaching staff appreciates the hard work of the players and the support of their parents, families and friends.