MSA lacrosse 'bounce back' wall honors Maloney, Montovi

MAHOPAC, N.Y.—The Mahopac Sports Association’s girls and boys lacrosse programs have completed a meaningful new project—one that’s as much about remembrance as it is about training.

With the help of donations, community support, and program funds, the two programs recently built a 10-foot bounce-back wall for youth lacrosse players. But beyond its practical value as a training tool, the wall serves as a lasting tribute to two former players: Sean Moloney and Hope Mantovi, both of whom left lasting impressions on the Mahopac lacrosse community before their untimely deaths.

“What’s special about this is that it is being built from donations as well as funds from the two programs to honor some former lacrosse players, Sean Moloney and Hope Montovi,” said MSA Lacrosse Assistant Director Marisa Donaghy.

Sean Moloney, a standout Mahopac athlete and 1994 member of MSA’s first-ever boys lacrosse team, died on Nov. 12, 2020, at age 38. He went on to play Division I lacrosse at Drexel University, where he was named team captain.

“They say if you turn a lacrosse stick sideways it looks somewhat like a key,” read a letter Donaghy shared with Mahopac News. “Sean held this key and used it to unlock many doors.”

Teammates described him as “an elusive and explosive threat that could shoot, finish, dish, and scrap it out” and remembered how “his presence was always felt on every field he roamed.”

Donaghy wrote that Moloney’s memory sparked an outpouring of generosity, with donations coming in from friends, family, and former teammates—some from as far away as Ireland. “The idea to build a wall was immediately agreed upon,” she noted. “A solid everlasting symbol that is a vital training tool for all young athletes of any ability that can never be outgrown.”

Less than two years after Moloney’s death, the Mahopac community suffered another tragic loss. Hope Mantovi, also a former MSA player, died on April 10, 2022, at age 23. Her memory was honored with a memorial game that spring, further reinforcing the determination to complete the wall.

Getting the project built was a labor of love—especially for Moloney’s best friend, Ryan Harney, who helped lead the effort. The finished wall now features images of both Sean and Hope, thanks to artwork by Rios Studios.

“Ryan, a lifelong resident of Mahopac, has been surrounded by the support of so many—a testament to the genuine loyalty he offers to all who know him,” Donaghy said.

Among those who helped bring the project to life were MSA board members, friends, former coaches including Chris Bates of the Utah Archers and Matt Musci of the Towson Tigers, and local business owner Nick Piqueras and family of County Excavating. Carmel Recreation and Parks also assisted.

“If you want to know who your real friends are, ask them to help you build a wall,” Donaghy wrote. “Ryan Harney and his wife Margaret now know this.”

The final message, addressed to the Moloney and Mantovi families, sums up the community’s hope: “Nothing can make up for your loss, but we wish to bring you comfort in knowing that future children will look up to Sean and Hope as they too dream of using their sticks as keys to great things.”