Foran nips West Haven
Lions hold on to top Westies in season opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(March 31, 2018) - Looking to get the season started on the right foot, the West Haven girls lacrosse team could not rally and fell to Foran 13-12 Saturday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

The Westies could not contain Foran's Sam O'Neill, who scored eight goals for the Lions. Hailey McGinnis and Hayley Byers each scored twice for Foran.

















​Mackenzie Holy (18) and the Westies fell against Foran, March 31, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Madisyn Crotta and Mackenzie Holy each scored three times and added an assist apiece for the Westies, while Lexi Burzynski and Keegan Riccio each scored twice. Shannon Siclari and Celina Condon scored one goal apiece. 

Nicole Gaston made 14  saves in the loss for West Haven. 





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Lexi Burzynski against Foran, March 31, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 
The Westies got off to a good start in the game, taking a 7-6 lead at the half. With the game even at nine, Foran scored the next three times before the Westies came back. Goals by Celina Condon and Madisyn Crotta got West Haven within a goal, but it was not enough.

The Westies started the game in impressive fashion, taking an early lead, before Foran rallied back.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead with 19 minutes, 46 seconds left in the first half as Holy scored off an assist from Crotta. Just 1:23 later, the lead was 2-0 when Siclari scored. When Holy tallied again 41 seconds later, the Westies held a 3-0 lead.















Madisyn Crotta goal against Foran March 31, 2018. Video courtesy Mike Madera.
Foran answered with the next two goals as O’Neill and Byers tallied to get the Lions within 3-2.
West Haven again got in the scoring column as Riccio scored with 12:50 to go in the half for a 4-2 advantage.After Foran answered 39 seconds later, Burzynski scored for a 5-3 lead with 10:35 remaining in the half.
O’Neill then evened the game for the Lions with the next two goals, the latter with 6:46 left in the half. Holy put West Haven back on top 22 seconds later, and Burzynski increased the margin to 7-5 with 3:56 left in the opening half.
The Westies again took a three-goal lead with the first two goals of the second half. Riccio scored at the 23:40 mark and Crotta followed 3:41 later for a 9-6 advantage.
Foran then stormed back to take over the game, knotting the contest with 13:43 to go in regulation. O’Neill then scored the next two goals for Foran, giving the Lions an 11-9 lead with 7:42 remaining.
Condon scored from close range with 7:20 left to get West Haven within a goal, but even two more goals by Crotta were not enough in the loss.​


Sharks top Westies
WH searching for initial victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 10, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team is searching for its first victory. Just three games into the season, the initial win has eluded the Westies. 

Coming off a thorough defeat against East Lyme, West Haven looked to rebound Tuesday evening against Sacred Heart Academy. Unfortunately for the Westies, they will have to wait another day. 

Behind four goals from Mia Celentano and three more from Samantha Lee, the Sharks topped the Westies 10-5 at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. 

















Madisyn Crotta (21) and the Westies fell against Sacred Heart Academy, April 10, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

West Haven (0-3) was led by Madisyn Crotta with a pair of goals, and single tallies from Shannon Siclari, Keegan Riccio, and Taylor Nowak, who just returned from winning a national championship a day earlier with the Shoreline Sharks U16 hockey program. 

Nicole Gaston finished with 18 saves in the loss for the Westies, while Emily Ross made eight saves in the win for the Sharks. 

West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the opening half when Crotta scored at the 22:02 mark, before Celentano evened the contest with 17:33 left in the half. Just nine seconds later, Nowak put West Haven back on top, before the Sharks needed just 12 seconds to even the game on a goal by Sofia Verna. 
















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Amani Cayo and the Westies fell against Sacred Heart Academy, April 10, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

The goal by Verna was the first of five in a row for the Sharks as they took a 6-2 lead. Celentano scored for a 3-2 advantage with 16:39 to go in the half, and Jacquelyn Blois, Lee, and Celentano followed for a 6-2 advantage. 

Crotta got West Haven back on track with a goal with 3:55 remaining in the half, and Siclari scored with 1:43 left in the half to get West Haven within 6-4. 

That was as close as the Westies got as Lee and Celentano scored in the final 26.3 seconds of the half for an 8-4 Sacred Heart lead. Riccio got West Haven within 9-5 with 19:06 left in the contest, but West Haven never got closer. ​


Amity cruises past Westies
Quick start lifts Spartans to 9-5 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2018) - The Amity girls lacrosse team scored eight goals in the first half and cruised to a 9-5 victory over West Haven Thursday evening at Ken Strong Stadium. The loss left West Haven searching for its first victory of the season, falling to 0-4. 

Amity led 8-1 after the first half and never looked back as Taylor Walsh scored three times, and Payton Grande and Ana Carney each scored twice. Grace Kosh made eight saves for the Spartans. 

Madisyn Crotta led West Haven with two goals, while Keegan Riccio had a goal and two assists. Emily Mendes and Taylor Nowak also scored for the Westies. Nicole Gaston made 10 saves in the loss. 


West Haven falls to Law
Westies drop to 0-5 with 15-3 loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team is searching for its first victory of the season. That search continues. 

Falling behind early and watching as Jonathan Law scored 12 times in the first half, West Haven fell to Jonathan Law 15-3 at Jonathan Law in Milford Tuesday evening. With the loss, West Haven fell to 0-5 on the season. 

Law (4-1) started quickly and never stopped, taking a 12-1 lead at the half. Colleen Goodwin led law with four goals, while Erin Goodwin, Olivia Kaetor, and Anria Torres each scored twice. 

Keegan Riccio led led West Haven with two goals, while Madisyn Crotta added a goal, and Annalise DePino had an assist. Nicole Gaston made six saves in the loss for West Haven. 


Westies win first of Year
WH tops Lyman Hall 11-5
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 21, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team picked up its first win of the year, topping Lyman Hall 11-5 Saturday evening in West Haven. The win improved West Haven's record to 1-5 on the season. 

The Westies led 2-1 at the half, before exploding for nine goals in the second half. 
















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West Haven against Lyman Hall, April 21, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Mackenzie Holy, Keegan Riccio, and Emily Mendes each scored twice for West Haven, while Riccio also added an assist. Celina Condon had a goal and an assist, while Annalise Depino, Taylor Nowak, Madisyn Crotta, and Amani Cayo each scored once. 

















​​West Haven against Lyman Hall, April 21, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Nicole Gaston made nine saves in the win for West Haven. 


Westies fall to Lauralton
WH tops Lyman Hall 11-5
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 23, 2018) - Just days after picking up its initial victory of the season, the West Haven girls lacrosse team was looking to go on a run. That run will have to wait. 
















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Madisyn Crotta (21) against Lauralton Hall, April 23, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Allowing nine goals in the first half, West Haven fell to Lauralton Hall 13-3 in Milford Monday afternoon. 

















​West Haven against Lauralton Hall, April 23, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

Keegan Riccio, Emily Mendes, and Amani Cayo each scored once for the Westies in the loss. Bela Yoguez led Lauralton with five goals, and Kailyn Ball had three goals. Nicole Gaston made 18 saves in the loss for West Haven. 


​North tops West
Indians defeat Westies 15-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 24, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team fell to North Haven 15-4 Tuesday evening at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. With the loss, West Haven fell to 1-7 on the year. 

The Indians took control of the game from the start, leading West Haven 9-1 at the half. 

Emily Mendes led the Westies with two goals, Madisyn Crotta added one goal and one assist, and Mackenzie Holy also scored. Nicole Gaston made three saves for the Westies. 

Kylie Brandt and Annie Uyeki led North Haven with four goals apiece.


​Westies fall to Mercy
Depino, Holy score in 9-2 loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 30, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team was looking for its second win of the season. Unfortunately for the Westies, that victory did not come Monday evening. 

Allowing six goals in the second half, West Haven fell to Mercy 9-2 at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. With the loss, West Haven fell to 1-8 on the year. 

















The West Haven girls lacrosse team fell to Lauralton Hall, April 30, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

The Westies were in the game in the opening half as goals by Annalise Depino and Mackenzie Holy sent he Westies to the half trailing 3-2. Behind the goals of Jordyn Madar and Meg McClellan, each scoring four times, Mercy put six goals on the board in the second half to pull away for the win. 

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Mackenzie Holy (18) and the Westies fell to Lauralton Hall, April 30, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Madisyn Crotta had an assist in the loss, while Nicole Gaston made 14 saves for the Westies. 

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Lyman Hall edges West Haven
Trojans top Westies 10-8
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 1, 2018) - With its only win of the season coming against Lyman Hall a short time back, the West Haven girls lacrosse team was hoping for the same result in the second battle between the two teams.

Instead, the Westies dropped their fourth in a row, losing a 10-8 contest in Wallingford Tuesday evening. With the loss, the Westies fell to 1-9 on the year. 

West Haven had a hard time containing Lyman Hall's Bianca DeSimone and Rachael Ruggiero, as DeSimone scored four times and Ruggiero added three more goals. 

Annalise Depino, Keegan Riccio, and Emily Mendes each scored twice in the loss for West Haven, while Madisyn Crotta and Mackenzie Holy scored one goal apiece. Holy and Emily Mendes each added one assist. 

West Haven's Nicole Gaston finished with nine saves. 


​Hamden nips Westies
Green Dragons post 14-11 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 3, 2018) - Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, the West Haven girls lacrosse team put up a solid battle against Hamden. Unfortunately for the Westies, they came up just short in a 14-11 loss at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven Thursday evening. 
















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Annalise Depino and West Haven fell to Hamden, May 3, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

The game was even at seven at the half, but Hamden outscored the Westies 7-4 in the second half. 

Annalise DePino led West Haven with six goals, while Mackenzie Holy and Emily Mendes each scored twice. Keegan Riccio finished with one goal, and Nicole Gaston made 11 saves in the loss. 
















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Mackenzie Holy and West Haven fell to Hamden, May 3, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 
Ally Ferraro and Keegan Bailey each scored three times for Hamden. West Haven fell to 1-10 on the year. 


No Mercy
Tigers thump WH 12-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 7, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team faced a tough task traveling to Mercy-Middletown, looking to snap a five-game skid. 

West Haven could not match the offensive output of the Tigers and fell to Mercy 12-4 Monday evening. The loss was West Haven's sixth in a row and dropped the Westies to 1-11 on the year. 

Madisyn Crotta, Mackenzie Holy, Emily Mendes, and Keegan Riccio each scored once for the Westies.  Nicole Gaston made six saves in the loss. Meg McClellan scored four goals and Mia Carbone added three for Mercy. 


Westies top Hamden
WH prevails 9-8
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 12, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 9-8 victory over Hamden Saturday morning in Hamden. With the win, the Westies improved to 2-12 on the year. 

Celina Condon, Mackenzie Holy, and Annalise Depino each scored twice in the win, while Emily Mendes, Amani Cayo, and Taylor Balzano also scored.
















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West Haven celebrates a goal against Hamden, May 12, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

The Westies showed plenty of fight throughout the game, battling from an early deficit, then holding on late in the contest. 

Trailing 1-0, West Haven evened the game at one when Condon scored with 18:09 remaining in the first half. Trailing 2-1, Depino and Mendes scored 1:37 apart to give West Haven a 3-2 lead, before Cayo's late goal in the opening half gave the Westies a 4-3 advantage. 

Cayo's tally was the first of five straight for the Westies as they opened the second half with four goals. 
















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Taylor Balzano (15) and West Haven topped Hamden, May 12, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

Balzano gave the Westies a 5-3 lead 15 seconds in, Depino scored 3:02 later, and Holy gave West Haven a 6-3 lead 28 seconds after. When Condon scored off an assist from Keegan Riccio, 16 seconds after Holy's goal, West Haven held an 8-3 lead. 

Hamden never quit and, behind a pair of goals each from Ally Ferraro and Keegan Bailey, got within 8-7 with 7:26 remaining. 

Holy gave West Haven a 9-7 lead with her second goal of the game with 4:21 left, before Bailey put excitement into the ending when she scored her third of the game for Hamden with 1:12 left. 

Ferraro finished with five goals for the Green Dragons. 


Foran tops Westies
Lions post 7-3 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 17, 2018) - The West Haven girls lacrosse team entered Thursday evening's game against Foran looking to build on its win over Hamden. Foran had other ideas. 

Scoring five times in the first half, the Lions rolled to a 7-3 victory over West Haven at Foran High. West Haven fell to 2-13 with the loss. 

















Marina Price (8) and the Westies fell against Foran, May 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Mackenzie Holy, Emily Mendes, and Evelyn Pacheco all scored for the Westies, who trailed by four goals at the half, in the loss. Celina Condon added an assist and Nicole Gaston made six saves in the loss. 

Samantha O'Neill led Foran with two goals, while Eva Knudsen had one goal and three assists.

















Celina Condon (33) and the Westies fell against Foran, May 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 
Shea Phelan made 16 saves for the Lions.


















Shannon Siclari (6) against Foran, May 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 


















Emily Mendes (12) against Foran, May 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 


















Taylor Nowak (11) against Foran, May 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. ​


West Haven falls on Senior Night
Shelton tops Westies 8-6
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 18, 2018) - The regular season has come to a close for the West Haven girls lacrosse team. Despite a valiant effort, the Westies fell to Shelton 8-6 on Senior Night at Ken Strong Stadium Friday evening. 

With the loss, West Haven concluded the season with a 2-14 record. 

















Amani Cayo (3) scores against Shelton, May 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

​West Haven led by a goal at the half, but Shelton used a 5-2 run in the second half to come away with the victory. 

Rachel Frost proved to be too much for West Haven to contain as she finished with four goals and an assist. 

















Taylor Nowak (11) scores against Shelton, May 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 
Mackenzie Holy and Taylor Nowak led West Haven with a goal and an assist apiece, while Amani Cayo, Annalise Depino, Emily Mendes, and Keegan Riccio each scored once in the loss. Nicole Gaston made 12 saves for West Haven. 

















Marina Price (8) battles against Shelton, May 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 
















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Annalise Depino (13) against Shelton, May 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

















​West Haven battles against Shelton, May 18, 2018. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.