SHRUB OAK, N.Y.—The Yorktown and Lakeland/Panas boys lacrosse teams have played for the Murphy Cup the last 35 seasons, including this current one. The game is named after Charlie Murphy, the founder of the Yorktown boys lacrosse program, who started it with a $500 donation in 1965.
The girls at each program wanted in on the action as well, and this season, the inaugural girls lacrosse Murphy Cup was held at Lakeland High School on May 10, with the Huskers coming away with an 18-7 victory.
Both coaches, Yorktown’s Heather Raniolo and Lakeland/Panas’ Leah DiSisto played for the teams they now coach and are happy that the girls get to have their own version of the Murphy Cup.
“There is a tradition at Yorktown,” Raniolo said. “My brother played in the Murphy Cup growing up. I always wanted to play in that and be a part of it, just like him. So it’s cool to now be back coaching and have it be part of the girls program.”
DiSisto said that it was “huge” for her team to play in the Murphy Cup.
“As a Lakeland/Panas lacrosse player, it’s something that we wish we could have played in every year that we were playing, so it’s a big deal to introduce the girls into this tradition,” DiSisto said. “Obviously, I just wish the game went our way.”
Helping the game go Yorktown’s way was Brie Gaccino (3G, 2A).
“Everyone on our team is really excited to win the first girls Murphy Cup,” Gaccino said. “Both teams brought a lot of energy, but thankfully we came out on top.”
Lakeland/Panas’ Brooke Pizzarello (3G, 4 draw controls) called the game an “amazing” experience.
“It’s a great tradition, getting to see the boys play,” Pizzarello said. “We usually come and watch them. It’s a great time, but getting to play in it is even better.”
The game started as a back-and-forth affair.
“They came out on fire, they came out with energy, passion, and confidence,” DiSisto said of her team’s first-half effort.
Pizzarello scored to tie the game at 6-6 with 6:54 to go before halftime, for her 200th career varsity point.
“It means a lot, especially to do it in this game,” Pizzarello said. “I worked really hard for it, so just to get to be out on the field and do it feels great.”
Pizzarello’s goal came on an 8-meter shot.
“It felt really good to get the momentum going. At that point we were in the game,” Pizzarello said.
Gaccino gave the Huskers a 7-6 lead when she scored off an assist from Sydney Sateriale (3G, 1A, 1 draw control), with 2:27 to go in the second quarter.
“We had a pretty slow start, but we just said, ‘pick it up and work together as a team, ’ and that’s what we did,” Gaccino said.
Gaccino’s goal started a 5-0 run that put Yorktown up 11-6 at halftime. That run included another goal by Gaccino—her 150th career varsity goal.
“It’s (scoring the 150th goal) amazing,” said Gaccino, who also got her 200th career point earlier in the game. "Being with a great team obviously helps. I couldn’t have done it without them. It’s a big game, our first Murphy Cup, so it meant a lot to get it in a big game like this.”
In the second half, Yorktown sealed the game by outscoring the Rebels 7-1.
“We came out slow today,” Raniolo said. “The girls really wanted to bring home the first Murphy Cup so they just came out stronger in the second half and played a lot better.”
Ava Cunneen (4G, 1A, 2 draw controls), Annie Cunneen (3G, 2A, 3 draw controls), Lilly Diaz (1G, 3A, 3 draw controls), Ava Ryan (1G, 1A), Sofia Boucher (1G, 1A, draw control), Mia Cappellini (1G), Ella Simone (1G), Khloe Clarkin (1A), Caitlin Mulvihill (8 draw controls), Sam Conboy (3 saves), and Julia Fitzsimmons (1 save) all contributed to the Husker victory.
Gabby Goldstein (3G), Maddie DiMirco (1G, 2 draw controls), Ari Prashad (1A), Emma Stewart (1A), Lilly Whippo (2 draw controls), and Veronica Lynch (9 saves) produced for the Rebels.
Yorktown (9-6) lost to the No. 5 team in the Inside Lacrosse National Poll, Nyack, 25-15. The 15 goals visiting Yorktown scored were the most anyone has scored against the national power.
Leading the Huskers in the May 6 contest were Sateriale (4G, 1A), Ryan (4G), Boucher (2G, draw control), Diaz (2G, draw control), Gaccino (1G, 1A), Annie Cunneen (2A, 4 draw controls), Ava Cunneen (1G), Ella Robustelli (1G), Mulvihill (2 draw controls), Clarkin (2 draw controls), Conboy (6 saves), and Fitzsimmons (3 saves).
Lakeland/Panas (3-9) fell to visiting John Jay-Cross River 13-5 at Walter Panas on May 6, led by Pizzarello (2G), Anna Lemma (1G, 1A), DiMirco (1G), Sophia Hoffman (1G), and Lynch (15 saves, including the 100th of her varsity career).
“It felt great,” said Lynch of registering her 100th save.
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