Pearl River Girls Lacrosse Starts Slowly (VIDEO)

The Pearl River girls lacrosse team lost to John Jay, 19-15, at home Thursday to fall to 0-4 on the season.

The game provided examples of the story of the Pirates' season so far. Veterans such as Kiera McMullan, Kaitlin Creagh, Breanna Relahan and Delia White provided much-needed leadership and production and Pearl River's young players showed promise, but in the end the inexperience was too much to overcome against a strong opponent.

"I knew we were going to be a little inexperienced," Pearl River Head Coach Laurie Mayernik said. "I knew thing would have to come together. I thought it would be easier to go through the big guns first and see what we can learn from them."

All four of Pearl River's opponents have been from larger classifications, with Suffern, North Rockland and Yorktown coming before John Jay. 

"John Jay is a very, very good team," Mayernik said. "We can play with any of them. All these teams are not in our league. With what we have, the future is looking bright.

"There are three parts of the season. There is the first part, which I stacked (the schedule). Then there is the league part. Then we have sectionals. If we are kicking it into gear in the last part, we're golden."

Senior midfielder McMullan continues to provide reason for optimism. Pearl River trailed 6-0 early in the first half, but McMullan dominated play early in the second half, scoring twice and setting up two other goals to pull the Pirates within a goal at 12-11. She finished the game with eight goals and three assists.

"She did in the second half what she did in the regional game last year," Mayernik said. "She took it on her shoulders. There was one shot they didn't even blow the whistle because it went so fast into the goal. The goalie didn't even know it went in.

"Our seniors did a good job today."

Junior goalie Delia White, who finished with 10 saves, made some key stops to give Pearl River a chance.

"I can't say enough about Delia," Mayernik said. "She's such a good goalie. At halftime, she was calm, cool and collected."

Mayernik said she is seeing signs of growth from her young players. Freshman Maggie Davin scored three goals for the Pirates Thursday.

"The kids are starting to play," Mayernik said. "The freshmen in there today held their own. Maggie Davin holds her own."

That was a challenge, especially early on, against John Jay's Lauren Murray, who is committed to Northwestern, and Kelsey Davey, who will play her college lacrosse at USC. Murray scored six goals and assisted on two more. Davey scored five. 

"In the first half, we weren't ready for their speed and their shooting is just incredible," Mayernik said. "Out of all the teams I've seen so far, John Jay is the best of them."

Mayernik remains positive despite the team's slow start.

"The inexperience right now is what is going to be the frustrating part and it will cost us some games," Mayernik said. "But if we start hitting our stride soon, which I really feel we will, we already know how to play with the big guns."

Pearl River will play its next game Tuesday, April 17 at 4:15 p.m. at Clarkstown South. 

Girls Lacrosse

John Jay 19, Pearl River 15

Goals: JJ - Murray 6, Kelsey Davey 5, Sarah Lang, Molly O'Reilly, Jilli Schell 2, Hanna Weir 2, PR -- Kiera McMullan 8, Maggie Davin 3, Kaitlin Creagh 2, Caitlin Noonan 1, Allison Cook 1
Assists: JJ - O'Reilly 5, Lang 3, Murray 2, Hanna Bocklet; PR -- McMullan 3, Creagh
Saves: JJ -- Renee Nouri 17; PR -- Delia White 10