Seahawks Claim Program's First State Championship

The Cold Spring Harbor girls lacrosse team traveled to SUNY Cortland last weekend where they captured the first New York State Championship title in program history. (Photo/Twitter/Cold Spring Harbor Athletics)

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

While for the past three years Cold Spring Harbor’s state championship-winning boys lacrosse team has been the talk of the town, this time around it was Lady Seahawks’ year to soar.

The girls lacrosse squad defeated Honeoye Falls-Lima, 18-3, on Sunday to snag the program’s first-ever Class C state championship. Cold Spring Harbor’s only other appearance in the state tournament came in 2014.

The Seahawks, who end their season 19-2, reached the state tournament after enduring late-game drama in the Long Island championship game against Mount Sinai, which they eventually defeated.

There was no drama upstate, though, as the Seahawks handily defeated Jamesville-DeWitt, 16-8, in the semis on Friday before taking care of business against Honeoye Falls-Lima in the final.

The Seahawks came out soaring in the first half of the state championship game, scoring 13 times in the first half, including four times within the first six minutes.

Emily Weld and Caroline DeBellis, who each finished with four goals in the game, each scored two of Cold Spring Harbor’s first four goals.

The Cougars were within striking distance of the Seahawks with 12:34 left to play in the first half, with the score 6-2, but the Seahawks went on a 7-0 run before halftime.

Cold Spring Harbor then glided to victory with five more goals in the second half, while also shutting down the Cougars’ offense.

Grace Tauckus’ dominated the draw circle for Cold Spring Harbor, leading the Seahawks to a 16-6 advantage on draws that kept her squad in possession and control the game.

Katherine Faria (three goals), Tauckus (two goals), Isabelle Vitale (two goals), Sophia DeRosa (one goal), Caroline Walter (one goal) and Emily McCormack (one goal) rounded out the list of eight Seahawks scorers.

Darby Cassidy, Maria Hudson and Nicole Mormile each added an assist for the Seahawks.

Emily McAteer recorded three saves.

The Seahawks were led by 12-year veteran coach Danielle Castellane.

Castellane praised the leadership of her four seniors, Caroline Atkinson, DeRosa, Faria and Weld, but said this year’s success was a result of a “total team attitude.”

“There were moments when every single player did something that put us over the edge,” Castellane said. “Everyone was able to play their role and do a little piece to achieve our success.”

The future looks bright for the Seahawks, but Castellane said her team is still enjoying the first state title in program history.

She said, “We’re really enjoying it and are not looking too far ahead, and enjoying it for these seniors.”