Smithtown West girls lacrosse claims first Suffolk title
Smithtown West celebrates after defeating Harborfields in the Suffolk Class B girls lacrosse final on Saturday at Smithtown West. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Kate Theofield and Jolie Schiavo are no strangers to playing in a county championship game. Winning one though, that’s been an unknown feeling for the star senior duo and the entire Smithtown West girls lacrosse team. But Theofield made it abundantly clear Saturday would be different.
Theofield scored three of her five goals over the first six minutes of the contest as top-seeded Smithtown West defeated No. 3 Harborfields, 12-9, in the girls lacrosse Suffolk Class B final at Smithtown West High School on Saturday afternoon. In doing so, Smithtown West captured its first county championship in program history.
“At this point of the season, it’s all or nothing,” Theofield said. “You have to leave it all out on the field, but I think our offense shifted. Everybody was able to contribute, and I think that’s something really special our team has.”
Theofield led the way and even if she didn’t want to admit it, her teammates and coaches will.
“She sets the tempo for our team for sure,” coach Vincenza Patrone said. “She definitely brings a lot of energy on and off the field, so we’re so lucky to have her. We’re definitely going to miss her since she’s a senior, but she’s earned her mark.”
“Even though she was getting face guarded,” Schiavo said, “Kate killed it.”
Smithtown West (16-2) plays Garden City (17-2) in the Long Island Class B championship in a state Class B subregional at Adelphi on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Harborfields finished 11-7.
History played a pivotal role in the Bulls’ motivation all season. Both the history of losing in back-to-back Suffolk Class B finals and making history by claiming the program’s first title.
“We knew we could beat these teams in our class and I think today shows we are not a team to be taken lightly,” Theofield said. “In the past, we fell short. And I think that was pretty unlucky. But this year, it fueled our fire. We didn’t come to lose.”
The sister duo of Kaitlyn Mennella and Ashley Mennella each had three points with Kaitlyn, a sophomore, scoring three goals and Ashley, a junior, adding two goals and an assist. Alyssa Lorefice had three assists and Sidney Marks and Schiavo each added a goal.
“We knew this was our year,” Schiavo said. “This is the best this team has ever been and we all came together and played as a team and played 110% the whole time. And that’s what we needed to win.”
