Slow starts costs East girls lacrosse in Class B semifinals

Williamsville East's Sarah DiPofiraces past a Williamsville North defender during the Lady Flames' 9-6 home loss on Tuesday, May 15. At sectionals, East beat Grand Island, 10-6, in the quarterfinals and lost to Niagara-Wheatfield, 8-4, in the semifinals. Photo by John Rusac Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Third-seed Williamsville East got off to a slow start against second-seed Niagara-Wheatfield in the Section VI Class B girls lacrosse semifinals and it cost them their season.

The Lady Flames allowed Niagara Wheatfield's Corinne Abrams to score off the opening draw, found themselves down 3-0 early, and lost 8-4 on Thursday, May 24.

East had beaten Niagara Wheatfield, 14-7, during the regular season.

Emily Williams scored off a pass from Brittni Hargis to bring the score to 3-1 but that was as close as East would come. Also scoring for the Lady Flames were Sarah DiPofi, Lauren Latona, and Aleece Burgio. Hargis had two assists and Williams also had an assist.

East was unable to stop Niagara Wheatfield's star player, Zan Weinholtz, who scored six of the team's eight goals to add to her 100 plus total for the season.

East started their run in sectional play strongly, beating sixth-seed Grand Island, 10-6 on Tuesday, May 22.

East was playing with an extremely short bench as starters DiPofi, Burgio, and Lauren Hall were all unable to play. DiPofiwas serving a one-game disqualification, Burgio suffered an injury outside of lacrosse, and Hall was injured in a recent scrimmage with Orchard Park. Less than five minutes into the game, Latona also went down with an injury and did not return.

Within the first five minutes, East quickly took a 4-0 lead and did not look back. With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, East was up 6-0. Grand Island tried to come back, scoring two quick goals in the last two minutes, but were unable to come closer than a three-goal deficit.

Williams and Hargis each had six points to lead East. Williams scored five times and recorded an assist. Hargis scored two goals and distributed four assists. Latona had a goal and assist before she was injured. Erika Flashner scored a goal, as did Lauren LaPoint, her first. Emily Dehlinger and Alyssa Drozynski each had an assist.

East lost a tough non-league game to Williamsville North, 9-6, on Tuesday, May 15. Williams had four goals to lead the team. Dehlinger and Hargis were also credited with a goal each. Hall had three assists.

Williams led the team in points this season with 55 goals and 11 assists and will be attending Loyola College. Williams and Sizemore (goal, two assists for season) will be playing in the Exceptional Senior game on June 13 at Canisius College. Sizemore will be playing Division I lacrosse at Navy.

Latona, another senior, finished the season with 19 goals and 14 assists and will be attending Maryland University. Sheila Joshi, another senior, will attend Michigan University.

Hargis (33 goals, 19 assists), Dehlinger (16 goals, 16 assists), DiPofi(13 goals, 12 assists), Burgio (six goals, four assists), Flashner (five goals, four assists), Alina Swierski (four goals, four assists), Hall (two goals, eight assists), Claire Schiedemann (goal, two assists), LaPoint (goal, two assists), Drozynski (four assists), Jenny Berger (two assists), and Casey Lanighan (assist) also contributed throughout the season.