Forget the Record: Bears Showed They Could Hang with Top Teams

BREWSTER - If you looked only at the record compiled by the Brewster High girls lacrosse team this spring, you would think the Bears were noncompetitive, and an easy W for opponents.

Brewster coach Gerry Walsh talks strategy during a timeout this season. But this was no ordinary 2-11-2 team.

Brewster played every team tough - including several of the section's top programs. Consider this - the Bears tied Section 1 Class A champion Lakeland/Panas, tied Scarsdale, which also got to a sectional championship game, and beat Nyack, which went to the Class C semis.

Brewster ended up losing several one-goal games - including a 16-15 loss to Mamaroneck in the sectional quarterfinals - and simply never found a way to finish games. But the Bears were obviously close.

"We were very competitive with the top teams," second-year coach Gerry Walsh said. "We played with them… but we just came up a little short. In fact, last year we won the league, but this year we had a better team. I don't think you can look at the record as an indicator. We made progress, we're close, but just not quite there."

Left: Sarah Hogan; Center: Emily Biondi; Right: Lindsay Biondi; Photos by Skip Pearlman Three of the players who made things happen all season for Brewster were rewarded with post-season honors recently.

Senior team captain and midfielder Emily Biondi, a six-year varsity starter and one of the section's top talents, earned All-Elite, All-Section and All- League honors. Biondi, a four-time All-Section pick, led Brewster in virtually every category, and closes a stellar career as the school's all-time and single-season goals and assists leader. This spring Biondi totaled 51 goals and 11 assists for 62 points. The James Madison-bound (lacrosse scholarship) standout finished her career with 316 goals and 74 assists for 390 points.

"She's the most decorated girls lacrosse player to come through the program," Walsh said. "She's set the standard. She was our top offensive player and our top defensive player. She has all the tools, she's strong, fast, has great stick skills and sees the field well."

Senior team captain and middie Sarah Hogan, and eighth-grader Lindsay Biondi, also a midfielder, were both also named All-Elite, All-Section and All-League.

Hogan, a four-year varsity standout, led the team in assists with 24, and finished with 34 goals for a total of 58 points. Hogan - who was elected into the Brewster Hall of Fame along with Emily Biondi - will head to Towson State on a scholarship this fall.

"She's a great offensive player," Walsh said. "Not only a good scorer, but also a good feeder. She really played great during the last part of the season."

Lindsay Biondi was second on the team in goals (42), and had 19 assists for a total of 61 points, just one off Emily Biondi's team-leading pace.

"She's one of the top young players in the section," Walsh said. "She's mature beyond her years, and dominated - as an eighth-grader. Potentially, she could be one of the top players ever to come out of Section 1. She has to continue to develop, but I'm thrilled to have her back four more years."

Walsh also pointed to solid efforts from seniors Elle Quinn (Cortland), Casey Donnelly (Mary Washington), Ally Walsh, Sara Waruch, Nikki Serra and Cassie Rollins (Messiah), juniors Erin Taylor, Christine Feighan and Anna Spannaus, and eighth-grader Kristen Ohberg. "A lot of them were on varsity for three years," the coach said. "They really helped develop the program, won a league title last year, and played in the toughest league. And the younger players have a bright future ahead of them."

Walsh believes the Brewster program's outlook is also sunny.

"Next season we'll have some considerable young talent back," Walsh noted. "I think we could be strong in all three areas. Midfield is where we'll take the biggest hit - but with Lindsay back, and some other strong players, It could be a good season."