The 2001 Manhasset Girls Varsity Lacrosse team recently completed an outstanding season, in which they compiled a record of 17-2 while competing in the top conference in New York state.

The season began with six new players starting for the Indians, including two freshmen and three sophomores. On a cold and damp day in March, the girls opened the season with a hard fought loss to a very strong and senior laden team Wantagh team.

Sophomore midfielder Kate Breslin had an outstanding game, leading the Indians with 4 goals and an assist. With this opening loss and an extremely difficult league and non-league season ahead of them, the outlook was daunting. On Manhasset's nigh of lacrosse, on a cold, damp and rainy evening, the girls turned up the heat and lit up the scoreboard, overpowering an improved Locust Valley team by a 15-5 score. Senior Maura Costello filled the nets with 5 goals and senior attack Kristin Scherer fired in two goals and dished out 4 assists. This victory was to be the first of 17 consecutive wins, as the girls were about to steam roll their way through the season.

On April 4, perennial power Garden City walked onto the Manhasset field, carrying with them two consecutive state championships and a winning streak dating back to 1999. In Manhasset's opening league game, the entire team came together. The offense was led by Scherer who recorded 5 assists and two goals and Breslin with 4 goals and Costello with 3 goals. Outstanding midfield play led by freshman Juliet White, controlled Blake, shut down GCs high powered offense and Manhasset recorded a convincing 12-10 win. Next up was Darien, the perennial CT power. With a hearty crowd on hand, the girls put together a great team effort and overpowered Darien 16-9. Julia Southard was outstanding in goal with 14 saves, many of them brilliant. Scherer had an outstanding game scoring 4 goals and threading 6 assists against a very tight zone defense, and Kate Breslin had a stellar game with 7 goals and exceptional midfield play.

Next up was a non-league affair against Kellenberg, who Manhasset overwhelmed 17-4. The defensive effort was again outstanding and Scherer fired in 5 goals, with Costello adding 2 goals and 5 assists. Freeport was next on the schedule and Costello led the way with 4 goals while Breslin added 3 goals in an easy victory. The defense, again led by Harris and Blake, was outstanding.

The Manhasset girls next traveled to play the eventual class A champion, Farmingdale. The 15-9 win was spearheaded by Scherer who scored 2 goals and dished off 5 assists and Breslin, who lit up the nets with 6 goals. Southard was again outstanding with 10 saves, many of them from point blank range. Carle Place was next, and the girls put together an outstanding effort. Scherer poured in 6 goals and handed off 2 assists, Costello fired in 4 goals, Kiera Gilhooly and Kendra Bernard each fired in 3 goals, and Southard was exceptional with 19 saves in an 18-8 win. Next up was an improved and talented Syosset team, which the girls overpowered in a 13-4 win. Breslin led the way with 6 goals, Costello added 4 goals and 2 assists and Scherer recorded 4 assists. Southard recorded 19 saves against 23 shots, for a save percentage of 83 percent!

New Hyde Park was next on the scene and the 15-8 Manhasset victory was led by sophomore attack Meredith Hotarek who recorded 4 goals. Scherer chipped in with 3 goals and 4 assists and Breslin added 4 goals and 1 assist. The girls next traveled to Connecticut to play a very good New Canaan team. Outstanding team defense, 9 saves by Southard, 3 goals from Breslin, 2 goals from Costello and 2 assists from Scherer were enough to eke out a rugged 6-4 win. The girls returned to the Island to play North Shore, and the girls overwhelmed them 14-5. The outstanding offense was led by a brilliant effort from Schereer, who scored 3 goals and threaded the North Shore defense with 7 assists. Breslin scored 5 goals and Costello added 3 goals. The defense, led again by Harris, Blake and goalie Southard, completely shut down North Shore's vaunted offense.

Against Cold Spring Harbor, Breslin was unstoppable with 6 goals and 2 assists, sophomore Kendra Bernard scored 3 goals and Scherer assisted on 7 goals as the girls won 14-9. Southard had another fine game with 13 saves. Against the defending class A champions, Port Washington, Manhasset put together a great team effort in a hard fought 14-10 victory. Breslin led the way with 5 goals, Scherer had 3 goals and 4 assists, Bernard had 3 goals and an assist, Katie Killeen recorded 2 goals from her defensive wing position and Southard was rock solid in goal with 16 saves. Lynbrook was next and the 16-2 offensive onslaught was led by Breslin with 6 goals, Scherer with 2 goals and 7 assists and Costello with 4 goals and 2 assists. In Manhasset's final regular season game, Breslin poured in 7 goals, Scherer had four goals and 6 assists, and Costello had 4 goals and 2 assists in a 16-5 defeat of Baldwin. The team defense was again exceptional.

The playoffs began against Floral Park and the girls overpowered their opponents by a score of 15-6. Scherer recorded 12 points which included a career high of 8 assists to go with her 4 goals, Breslin added 5 goals and an assist and Costello recorded 4 goals and an assist. In the County Semifinal at CW Post, the girls put together a great team effort to overpower North Shore 16-6. Breslin recorded 6 goals along with 2 assists, Costello added 4 goals and 2 assists and Scherer added 2 goals and recorded 5 assists to lead the offense. Southard recorded 11 saves, and the defense, led by Lindsey Buhr, Courteny Hammer, Killeen, Harris and Blake, was again outstanding. The season, unfortunately, came to an abrupt end in the county championship game. Garden City played a great game and ended a superb season by the lady Indians. Scherer was brilliant on her final game, recording 4 goals and an assist and Breslin added 4 goals and an assist. The final team record was 17-2 and Manhasset finished the season ranked 17th in the country.

The 2001 outstanding team effort included the following outstanding individual performances; Total points: Scherer, 129. Breslin. 103. Costello, 72. Total goals: Breslin, 86, Costello, 53, Scherer, 48. Total Assists: Scherer, 81, Costello, 19, Breslin, 17. Ground balls: Breslin 92, Bernard 59, Blake, 57, Harris, 56. For the regular season, two individuals finished the season #1 in Nassau County: Senior Kristin Scherer was the leading scorer (total points) in and also led the county in assists. Sophomore Kate Breslin was the leading goal scorer in Nassau County.

Numerous awards were bestowed on the girls including 6 first team all county selections. Receiving first team all county honors were: Whitney Blake, Kate Breslin, Maura Costello, Lia Harris, Kristin Scherer and Julia Southard. Katie Killeen received honorable mention all county, Courtney Hammer received all-conference honors; Kendra Bernard received the unsung hero award. Senior defenseman Liz McCarty received the scholar athlete award. Kate Breslin received honorable mention all-American honors and Julia Southard was named First team all-American. Also recognized for leading the girls was head coach Tom Campilitano, who was selected by his peers as coach of the year.

Congratulations to the girls and to Coach Campi and Coach Schnitzer, on an outstanding season.