Hudson Valley Girls Lacrosse Drops A Pair in Opener

You can't get to Carnegie Hall without a heavy dose of practice, but Rome wasn't built in a day.  

The Hudson Valley girls lacrosse team, which features a crop of local talent, learned the latter the hard way as they caught the deer-in-the-headlights look during the opening round of Empire State Games in Buffalo July 22.  

Despite coming out of the gate hot (staked to a 4-2 edge) against Adirondack, Hudson Valley wallowed under the weight of a run they couldn't seem to weather. They relinquished their lead and never recovered from an Adirondack power surge.

 It ultimately resulted in the team dropping an 11-6 contest in Buffalo.  An ultra-deep and talented Adirondack team caged Hudson Valley's transition game and shut down their offensive flow.  

On the other side of the field, they penetrated the teeth of the defense at will. Adirondack's 9-2 tear exposed the Valley's youth and allowed the opponents' momentum to roll throughout.

While it wasn't a shock as it much as it was a rude awakening, Hudson Valley learned that clamping down and communicating defensively will be a major priority for this tournament.  

Empire State Games, back after a one-year sabbatical due to a budget crisis, is the ultimate lacrosse litmus test for the regions of New York State.

  While the Valley may have looked flat during the loss to Adirondack, a game in which they couldn't seem to utilize what's anticipated to be an efficient fast break game, they re-discovered their identity in a 5-2 loss to Long Island in the afternoon game.  

 "They (Adirondack) were strong, but I don't know if we came out all there," said Lakeland/Panas' rising senior Melissa Hanson, who is anchoring HV's defensive unit.  

"We had some problems gelling at the start but I think we came out a hell of a lot stronger against Long Island. Even though we came out so much better against Long Island, it was definitely a missed opportunity. We played much better, we just came up short. It was definitely something we could have had."  

 Brittany McCormack, Coutney McGrath, Lindsay Biondi and Erin Riley each found the back of the net during the lopsided loss to Adirondack. In the loss to Long Island, a game in which Hudson Valley gradually developed the communication that was lacking in the morning game, Lakeland/Panas' Alexa Bonnes and Erin McCabe each deposited goals.  

 "I think now we've recognized our strengths and our weaknesses," said Hanson.

"Team defense has to be one of our strong points. We need to refine that aspect of our game. That's something we'll take from this loss and hopefully win two games tomorrow."  

  Adirondack proved to be a demon the Hudson Valley simply couldn't extinguish today, as the Adirondack boys scholastic team also defeated Hudson Valley with Lakeland/Panas' Robbie Caffrey, by a 7-6 margin. Despite a late, four-goal surge, the Hudson Valley boys fell a goal shy.     

"For pretty much all of these kids, it's their first time competing on this stage," said Hudson Valley head coach John Callanan, who coaches at Suffern High School in Rockland County.

"I don't think there are any returning players. It's going to be an exciting experience for everybody, as well as a real learning experience."    

 Hudson Valley may have appeared callow in their first go-around in the prestigious Empire States tournament, but tomorrow is a new day.