Marc My Words!

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Lady Chargers look to shift gears in lacrosse

As the sun shines and the weather heats up, assistant coach Jim Drivas is hopeful that the Dominican College women’s lacrosse team will also heat up and shift into gear in quest of another Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) tournament appearance.

The Lady Chargers, who lost to Philadelphia University in overtime in last year’s tournament, recently posted its first victory of the season, and did it in decisive fashion following four setbacks.

Powered by Christina Brennan of Washington Township, along with North Rockland HS alumna Amber June of Stony Point, the Lady Chargers overpowered the Eagles of Post University, 20-8, in a CACC game at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn.

Brennan, a sophomore midfielder, posted four goals and one assist while June, a sophomore attack/midfielder, was one of three Lady Chargers to score three goals.

        Emily Murray of Oakdale had a team-high three assists and recorded one goal, while Tappan Zee HS graduate Shayne Gallagher of Blauvelt had one goal and an assist as Dominican made it a relatively comfortable day for sophomore goalie Brittany Kiernan of Clarkstown, who made six saves.

Gallagher is a freshman attack who is adapting to the quicker pace of collegiate competition.

“She’s already making waves,” said Drivas.

Kiernan, an alumna of Clarkstown South HS, is the only official goalkeeper on the roster, and thus bears a heavy load.

“It’s a tough job but she’s a tough kid, and smart,” said Drivas, now a resident of Pearl River who played football and lacrosse at North Rockland HS but concentrated solely on academics at Springfield College.

Drivas, who spent six years coaching at Manhattan College before coming to Dominican, came to the Orangeburg-based school in the spring last year, joining head coach Taryn Brechbiel of Stony Point.

“We should make it (tournament) again,” said Drivas. “As the days go on, with the sunshine, only good things will happen to us. The girls are all working hard and know the ultimate goal. We’re hoping to improve every day.”

Leading a cast of key players is Brennan. “I don’t think she steps off the field; she dictates the game, handles the draws,” lauded Drivas.

Also expected to play key roles are North Rockland HS graduates Tara Maltbie of Garnerville, just a freshman defenseman, and sophomore attack/midfielder Amber June of Stony Point. Maltbie is a transfer from LIU-Brooklyn while June came to Dominican from the College of Mount St. Vincent.

ON THE RUN: Track standout Winslow Dorsanivil of Monsey set a school record for St. Thomas Aquinas College, clocking 10.88 to finish fourth at the VCU Invite in Richmond, Va. Mike Abelard of Spring Valley held the previous mark.  The 4×800 team of Garvenchy Nicolas of Brooklyn, Joe Chegwidden of Hamburg, N.J., Matt Buell of Staten Island and George Erazo of North Babylon were victorious with a time of 8:03.72.  Mike Galonski of Newton, N.J., placed second in the steeplechase with a personal-best 9:49.85.  On the women’s side North Rockland HS graduate Katie O’Grady of Tomkins Cove finished eighth in the 5,000 with a time of 20:22.60.

HAIL TO THE CHAMPIONS: The sixth-grade boys  basketball team representing Saint Catharine’s in Blauvelt captured the state Archdiocesan CYO Championship to cap an unblemished 27-0 season. The champions were under the direction of Kevin Clancy Jr. of Orangeburg, a one-time player at Tappan Zee HS, former Bronx scholastic player Brendan Collins of Blauvelt, and Joseph Angelini, also of Blauvelt. Clancy – not be confused with NHL legend Francis ‘King’ Clancy — noted, however, that “the amazing season,” would not have been possible without the leadership of CYO coordinators Mary Anne Pagnani and Edward Dinnegan, both of Blauvelt. (Dinnegan’s son Kevin was an all-county football player at Tappan Zee, and was a member of the Dutchmen basketball team that lost in the state finals to finish at 26.1.) En route to the title game, a 49-27 victory over St. Mary’s of Washingtonville at John A. Coleman HS in Hurley, St. Catharine’s defeated St. Joseph’s of Kingston in the Upstate semifinal, and knocked off defending champion Sacred Heart of Staten Island, 50-46, in the Downstate championship game. St. Catharine’s had defeated St. Paul’s of Congers, 48-40, at Albertus Magnus HS for the Rockland County crown. In recognition  of its outstanding season, the team will be honored by the Orangetown Town Council on April 8 at 7:45 p.m.

Championship roster: Robert Caulfied, Liam Collins, CJ Florencia, Joseph Grammatica, Dan Linehan, Anthony Rostek, Jacob Sansone, and Matthew Zona, all of Blauvelt; and Kevin Clancy Jr., Orangeburg.

MILESTONE:  Sophomore Tara Monaghan of Stony Point continued her torrid pace with four goals as the unbeaten Cortland women’s lacrosse team defeated Geneseo, 15-6, in Rochester. The win was the 100^th for sixth-year head coach Kathy Taylor, whose Red Dragons are ranked second nationally.  Monaghan, an alumna of North Rockland HS, who has said the Red Dragons are on a quest to win a national championship, has 18 points on the season with 16 goals and two assists. Cortland visits Oswego at 1 p.m. on April 5, and then hosts Brockport at 4 p.m. on April 8. Julia Calandra of Suffern is a freshman attack at Oswego.

TAKE THE TRAIN: Baseball fans looking at attend the Yankees’ home opener on April 7 can avail themselves of the
“Yankee Clipper” service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines provided by Metro-North Railroad. Shuttle service is offered every 20 minutes before, during and after the game from Grand Central Terminal and Harlem-125^th Street. Children aged 5 to 11 ride for just $1 to any game, while commuters who hold monthly or weekly tickets to Grand Central or Harlem-125^th Street can use those tickets to reach the stadium at no additional charge. For details about game-day schedules, pick up a special Yankees-153rd Street Station Game Day timetable, available online and at Grand Central Terminal and outlying stations. Or visit www.mta.info/mnr and get train times.

METS Fans are not to be forgotten, either. Devout followers of the team hailing from the Hudson Valley and Connecticut can reach Citi Field is on Metro-North.  From Grand Central, catch the Queens-bound 7 subway right to the Mets-Willets Point station, a short walk from Citi Field. You can ride either the 7 local train or the diamond-express. All 7 trains stop at Mets-Willets Point.

QUICK HITTERS: Junior Meg McNally of Hillburn had one goal as the Mercy College women’s lacrosse team defeated East Coast Conference rival Queens College, 12-6, in Dobbs Ferry. McNally added another goal as the Mavericks then improved to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the ECC with a 15-4 victory against the University of the District of Columbia. Mercy hosts Bridgeport on April 5 at 3 p.m. … Junior pitcher Frank Fantino of Nanuet, a transfer from Southern New Hampshire University, is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA for the Purchase College baseball team. … Nanuet HS alum Colin Kelly of West Nyack, a junior pitcher, struck out five and allowed one run in two innings of work as the Catholic University of America baseball team in Washington, D.C., snapped a four-game slide with a 14-7 win over visiting McDaniel College. The Cardinals travel to Madison, N.J., on April 4 to meet Drew University. Freshman outfielder Marc Cohen of Chestnut Ridge is batting .182 with an RBI in six games at Drew while senior Corey Mulligan of Pearl River has appeared in five games, batting .250. Catholic University hosts Juniata College of Huntington, Pa., for two games on April 5 and a single game on April 6. … Sophomore infielder Joey Aiola of Suffern has driven in eight runs on the baseball team at Marist College, which travels to Lawrenceville, N.J., on April 5 for a noon doubleheader against Rider College. The Red Foxes return to Poughkeepsie on April 8 to host the University of Albany at 3 p.m. Senior infielder Brian Bullard of West Nyack has six RBI at Albany while sophomore southpaw Brendan Ryan of Pearl River is 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA in five appearances, including one starting assignment. … Senior Kelsey Rehain of Suffern had two goals as the Manhattan College women’s lacrosse team fell to Quinnipiac, 12-11, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener for both teams in Hamden, Conn. The Lady Jaspers, 2-7 overall, meet Fairfield University in Riverdale on April 5 at 7 p.m., and stay home on April 9 to host Monmouth College at 8 p.m.  Nyack HS alumna Cristina DeVita of Valley Cottage is a sophomore defenseman at Fairfield. … The Red Foxes of Marist College in Poughkeepsie are competing at the Colonial Track & Field Relays in Williamsburg, Va., that conclude on April 5. Marist features a host of former Rockland County standouts, to wit: Tom Lappas, Olivia Lappas and Brian Edsall, all of Pearl River; Pat Ginty, Nick Hughes and Jackie Gamboli, all of Stony Point; and Tara Nuccitelli, Suffern. … Rebecca Sassone of Pomona was on the Varsity Fours crew as the University of Delaware women’s rowing squad competed at the 32nd Memorial Murphy Cup Regatta on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J. Delaware returns to the Cooper River April 12-13 when the Blue Hens take part in the Knecht Cup. … SUNY Albany goalie Anna Berman of Garnerville was named America East defensive player of the week. The nationally ranked Great Danes are 9-0, with a game scheduled on April 5 against the University of Vermont in Burlington. Taylor Pedersen of Nyack is a junior defenseman for the Catamounts, sporting an impressive 10-2 record. … Junior Jamie DeGennaro of Pearl River, a third baseman/catcher at Stevens Institute of Technology, was named Empire 8 softball player of the week. The Ducks, who went 12-4 through their first 16 games, travel to Houghton College for two games on April 4, and then visit Alfred University on April 5 for another scheduled doubleheader. … St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s lacrosse standouts Margaret Sharp of Suffern, player of the week, and Kaitlyn Lonergan of Stony Point, goalkeeper of the week, were honored by the East Coast Conference (ECC) … Junior Bryan Greig of New City, a Clarkstown South HS alum, pitched a nine-inning complete game as the Mercy College baseball team defeated LIU-Post, 3-1, in Brookville.

RIP: The track and field community in particular and the community at large suddenly lost Don Ryan of Garnerville at 81. A Korean War veteran and retired NYPD Lieutenant and bus driver for Haverstraw transit, Ryan will always be remembered for his dedicated contributions to track and cross country for more than 40 years. “He was the finest gentleman that I ever meet in the sport! It was ALWAYS about the Athletes! May the great Don Ryan rest in peace,” wrote Tom Doherty, another of Rockland’s dedicated sports supporters. Condolences are offered to Don’s beloved wife Elizabeth.