No. 4 Ranked Manhasset Lady Indians Team Preview

Coming in at number four in the top 25 preseason rankings are the Manhasset Lady Indians. Last year was an incredible run that saw them go 13-3 and make it all the way to the Class C LIC where they came up just short against Bayport. They were defeated by a single goal which will surely have them motivated to get back to the finals and come out on the winning side. They will also strive to go even further and capture the highly coveted state championship. Head Coach Meghan Clarke has a large pool of returning players that will surely make Manhasset a powerhouse once again this season. They’ve already given us a preview of how dangerous they can be by going a perfect 8-0 in the LILJ Winter Box League to win the championship.

Manhasset’s strength is their ability to outscore their opponents. They averaged 14 goals per game last season and scored a total of 229 goals which was the second most of any team in Nassau County. Their +115 goal differential was also the highest of any team in the county. This year the offense will be engineered by senior attacker Alexis Morton (Richmond). Morton has supreme talent with her ability to orchestrate an offense and simply pick apart the defense. In her junior season Morton led the team with 62 points and was second in goals with 44. Morton will also take a bulk of the draws for Manhasset this season. Two of her teammates that play alongside her at attack are senior Annalisa Massaro (Columbia) and attack/midfielder Tatum Goettlmann (High Point). Last year Massaro made significant contributions with 22 goals and seven assists for 29 points. Goettlman is described as having a tremendous IQ and is the ultimate competitor. In the winter box league she recorded 13 points with nine goals and four assists. This year their attack unit will be without the duo of Emma LoPinto and Grace Gately who combined for 109 points. The two of them certainly leave behind big shoes to fill, but with the talent of the returning players as well as some newcomers that could see the field, this provides a great opportunity for them to elevate their game.

A couple of Manhasset’s key returning midfielders include Caitlin Barrett (Duke) and Ashley Newman (Yale). Barrett and Newman just wrapped up strong outings in the box league where they were second and third in points respectively. They are both primed to have big seasons especially with the loss of 2021 graduate Megan Reilly who was responsible for 21 points last year.

Defensively they will be led by seniors Despina Giannakopoulos (Harvard), Christina Petras (Washington & Lee), and juniors Alexandra Schneider (UVA) and Alex Maliagros (Dartmouth). Expect for Giannakopoulos to defend opposing teams best attackers. Petras is described as a vocal communicator and a great team defender. She often finds herself getting in the passing lanes to breakup plays. Schneider is an absolute ball-hawk that moves her feet exceptionally well. Her tremendous speed makes her a great asset in the clearing game. Maliagros is also seen as a great clearer of the ball and brings a level of tenaciousness that will lead to a lot of caused turnovers. With goalie Finley Collins graduating last year, there is a chance that the defense will be playing in front of goalies Allie Lulov and Jordyn Landman. Lulov the junior and Landman the sophomore were both part of the box league and combined for 48 saves with a save percentage just under 50%.

Manhasset is filled with underclassmen talent that exemplify the depth that the program has. A few of their super sophomores that made contributions as freshmen are Nicole Giannakopoulos, Holly Newman, Mia LoPinto and Shea Panzik. Giannakopulos and Newman play midfield and combined for 23 points. LoPinto and Panzik are two attackers that together totaled 14 points. Another one of their super sophomores is midfielder Lauren Perfetto who brings immense talent to the table. She is extremely athletic and plays well both on and off the ball. Perfetto works equally as hard on the defensive end as she does on offense and is a ground ball machine. She is a tremendous finisher that often makes tough shots look easy and is a future leader of the team.

With a fully loaded schedule this season there are a ton of marquee matchups for Manhasset this season. Here are the must-see games this season.

Manhasset @ Syosset (4/13)

St. Anthony’s @ Manhasset (4/20)

South Side @ Manhasset (4/25)

Manhasset @ Massapequa (4/28)

Garden City @ Manhasset (4/30)

Wantagh @ Manhasset (5/3)

Sacred Heart @ Manhasset (5/7)

 

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