The girls varsity lacrosse team notched their first win of the season on April 17 when they beat the top team in the league and their long-time rival, Mamaroneck. The final score was 9-6.

The Raiders began their year with a tough start after their coaches, Genette and Gail Zonghetti, were fired just before the season, and they began with an 0-7 record under the new leadership of Athletic Director Ray Pappalardi and assistant coach Megan Matthews of Scarsdale’s modified lacrosse program. So, before the game, “the team was nervous…They have always been our biggest rival, and knowing our record I do not think people were confident going into the game. However, we were all specifically motivated to turn our season around… and were really trying to shock the section,” said attacker Chessy Greenwald ’19.

The Raiders played with enthusiasm and strength, which was obvious from the start of the game; at one point in the first half, they were beating Mamaroneck 5-1. Along with their determination, a factor that contributed to their lead was the effective strategy they used: “We held onto the ball and didn’t shoot for very long periods of time to ensure that they did not get the ball from us. It was a very low scoring game, especially for Mamaroneck,” said Greenwald. By stalling their offense and keeping the score on both sides relatively low, the Raiders were able to secure a victory with a score of 9-6. They were thrilled by the win. “We were beyond excited and were feeling confident for the first time… I think it taught us what we are capable of and what exactly we need to do in order to win,” said Greenwald.

Scarsdale will have another opportunity this season to face Mamaroneck, and this time it will be on their home turf. Make sure to come and support the team on May 3rd as they look to defeat their biggest rival again.