Dina Nicastro and Melissa Montreuil are best friends who have been playing lacrosse together since third grade. The New Hyde Park Memorial High School graduates developed their talents early on, participating in PAL lacrosse clinics and taking those talents to college where they excelled in the sport. Now, the two want to help other local girls succeed by hosting a girl’s lacrosse clinic at Memorial Park for three Sunday’s in September.
Nicastro got the idea for the clinic when she was working as camp director for the New Hyde Park Village Summer Program this year. She previously worked as a counselor for six years.
“There haven’t been any girl’s lacrosse clinics for a few years in the village and Melissa and I thought it would be a good idea to start one up,” said Nicastro.
“We know that there is a strong interest in the sport here.”
After graduating New Hyde Park Memorial, Nicastro went to Mount St. Mary’s College to play lacrosse. She ended up transferring to Adelphi University where she graduated in 2013. She is now a teacher’s assistant in Richmond Hill, Queens.
Montreuil played lacrosse at Queens College where she was the team leader in assists. She is currently in grad school, studying nutrition.
“We love the sport so much that after college we wanted to continue to be involved with it,” said Montreuil. “Originally we looked into programs for ourselves so we could continue playing but it is hard to do especially now that we are in the working world.”
The clinics will be held in three sessions on Sept. 14, 21 and 28. The sessions will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Hyde Park Memorial Park at 610 Albert
St.
The cost will be $30 per session or $85 for all three sessions. A registration and liability form is included in the sign-up. Bring your own equipment.
In the clinics which are for girls age 7-12 years old, Nicastro and Montreuil will teach the fundamentals of the sport, including catching, throwing and cradling the ball. They will concentrate on offensive, defensive and individual skills with a focus on scoring, feeding, off-ball movement and end with a scrimmage on the third day.
