(Photos by Frank Rizzo)
Something unusual happened to the Farmingdale girls’ lacrosse program last year. The Dalers finished with a losing record for the first time in memory. And they failed, for the first time since 2005, to win the Nassau County Class A championship (though they reached the final, falling to Syosset 7-3).
Since Shari Campbell succeeded Tracy Weiner, in 2009, her squads have added three state championship trophies to the case and have had the kind of success in the county girls’ lacrosse scene surpassed only by such Class B powerhouses as Garden City and Manhasset.
The Dalers’ yearly contests against Garden City usually produce competitive affairs, but when the Trojans visited last week, they came away with a dominating 20-6 win. The loss dropped Farmingdale to 2-5 in Conference I and 4-6 overall. Caroline Bleck led the home team with four goals and one assist.
“We didn’t show up today,” said Campbell. “We’re relatively young and not too experienced. When we fall behind we tend to get down and get frustrated.”
Every time the Dalers scored and gave their momentum a boost, the visitors would quickly answer and snuff any comeback hopes. The Trojans had an uncanny ability to spring attackers open near the Daler net for uncontested goals.
“They don’t make mistakes,” Campbell said in praise of the visitors.
Campbell noted that she is still trying to find the offensive and defensive leaders as the Dalers aim for another shot at the Class A championship. As of now all four “A” schools in Conference I are suffering losing seasons, and Campbell said that the May 4 tilt against Massapequa (2-4 league) will decide matters as far as seeding for the Class A playoffs.
“We’re struggling,” Campbell admitted.
