Newsday's All-Long Island girls lacrosse first team 2026

Newsday Player of the Year: Sophia Buffardi, Sayville, M, Sr.

The Sayville girls lacrosse team had a special year. Largely because it is led by special athletes.

Sophia Buffardi is Inside Lacrosse’s No. 4-ranked recruit in the nation, and her performance this season proved she deserves the praise. Buffardi helped lead the Golden Flashes to the state Class C championship — the perfect end to a perfect, 21-0 season.

Buffardi scored four goals in the championship game, a 15-7 win over Jamesville-DeWitt (Section III).

"We really worked so hard all season long to get here," Buffardi said. “And to finally cap it off perfectly is what we've really dreamed of. As a team, we just really focused on playing our best game possible. I’m so excited we did it.”

Buffardi is a do-it-all midfielder, and has been her whole career. She totaled 77 points (59 goals, 18 assists) this season. She will next take the field at the University of North Carolina, which has won three NCAA Division I championships in the past five years.

She’s fast, athletic and wants the ball more than anyone else on the field. Buffardi amassed 249 points (180 goals, 69 assists) in her five-year varsity career.

Coach Gary Jensen said athletes like her don’t come around too often.

“It’s no surprise,” Jensen said. “She’s been dominating all year. If she’s not on the field, working the offense, getting us possession, we might not be [undefeated].”

Nassau Player of the Year: Savanna Appleton, Massapequa, A, Sr.

Throughout her years with the Massapequa girls lacrosse team, all Savanna Appleton has known is championships.

In her senior season, the feeling was no different. On May 27, Appleton led Massapequa to its sixth consecutive Class A Nassau championship. She dominated the stat sheet with four goals and four assists.

To coach Megan Protano, Appleton’s consistent dominance comes as no surprise.

“She’s the one orchestrating everything,” Protano said. “She gets her teammates ready to go, she’s a phenomenal athlete and we’re very fortunate that she wears Massapequa’s name across her shirt.”

Appleton ranked second on Long Island in points this year with 116 (65 goals, 51 assists). She tallied a season-high 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in a 19-9 win over Syosset on May 7.

Appleton collected 235 career points (137 goals, 98 assists) and will next take her talents to Clemson, where she will study accounting. Following the Nassau championship, Appleton said more time with her teammates is the most special part of winning.

“This one is extra special because it’s my senior year,” Appleton said. “Every single game, all of us want to go out there and give it our all and this one was no different. We knew this couldn’t be our last game together.”

FIRST TEAM

Sabrina Asadurian, Wantagh, M, Sr.

A  strong two-way midfielder, she recorded 86 points (67 goals, 19 assists) and was a tough matchup on the defensive end. Asadurian had a season-high 10 points (nine goals, one assist) in a 15-14 loss to Syosset on March 25. The Stony Brook commit finished her career with 179 points (149 goals, 30 assists).

Kate Atkinson, Northport, M, Sr.

Atkinson posted a well-balanced 80 points (43 goals, 37 assists). Her ability to thread the needle and find her teammates made her especially dangerous. The Vanderbilt commit recorded a season-high eight points (four goals, four assists) in a 20-8 win over Half Hollow Hills on April 9. She finished her five-year varsity career with 343 points (223 goals, 120 assists).

Caitlin Barnes, Islip, M, Sr.

Barnes played a key role in Islip’s offense throughout her whole career. The Boston College commit was a prolific scorer this season, leading the team with 78 points (67 goals, 11 assists). She put up a season-high nine goals in a 13-10 win over Westhampton on April 23 and finished her five-year varsity career with 300 points (211 goals, 89 assists).

Ruby Cacioppo, Manhasset, G, Sr.

Cacioppo has been an anchor for Manhasset’s defense, making 97 saves this season. She made a season-high 15 saves in an 11-9 loss to South Side on April 20. The Stanford commit is quick, athletic and provided leadership in Manhasset’s clearing game. She finished her five-year varsity career with 336 saves.

Riley Cash, Northport, A, Jr.

Cash had an explosive season for Northport, ranking second in Suffolk for points with 101 (67 goals, 34 assists). She put up a season-high nine points twice in wins over Connetquot (five goals, four assists) and Whitman (seven goals, two assists). She’s a southpaw with a strong shot, making her a dangerous cutter. The Ohio State commit has 236 career points (143 goals, 93 assists).

Anna Christie, St. Anthony’s, M, Sr.

Christie played a key role in securing the Friars’ sixth straight NSCHSAA championship. She is a prolific attacker with a nose for the net and strong decision-making skills from the X. The Notre Dame commit amassed a team-high 84 points (51 goals, 33 assists) this season and had a season-high nine points (seven goals, two assists) in a 19-11 win over Penfield on April 1.

Kimberly Colucci, Garden City, A, Sr.

Colucci had a breakout year, helping lead the Trojans to the state Class B final with 69 points (51 goals, 18 assists). The William & Mary commit has a strong rip, making her dangerous from mid- and deep-range. She put up a season-high six points twice in wins over Syosset (three goals, three assists) and Massapequa (five goals, one assist). She totaled 128 career points (95 goals, 33 assists).

Grayson Denihan, Manhasset, M, Sr.

Denihan is a shifty midfielder who specializes in transition and off-ball play. She contributed 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) this year, and her impact goes beyond the stat line. The Boston College commit is a playmaker and a tenacious markup on the defensive end. She totaled 57 career points (34 goals, 23 assists).

Abigail Dieumegard, Islip, G, Sr.

Dieumegard has been an impact player for Islip since the start of her career. She’s a reliable pillar in the defensive unit and made 160 saves this year alone, ranking first in Suffolk. She made a season-high 17 saves in a 13-7 loss to Sayville on April 15. The Virginia Tech commit finished her five-year varsity career with 526 saves.

Quinlan Heilbron, Ward Melville, D, Jr.

Heilbron has emerged as a lockdown defender for Ward Melville, using her quickness and strength to her advantage. She helped the Patriots to the Class A Suffolk championship and played a pivotal role in transition. The Clemson commit plays with nonstop intensity and thrives in high-pressure situations, helping Ward Melville to a 16-3 finish.

Harper Lambert, Manhasset, M, Sr.

Lambert was Manhasset’s rock this season, playing a steady role on both sides of the ball. She had a team-high 65 points (55 goals, 10 assists) to showcase her offensive strength and consistently played an impactful role in the ride. The Duke commit had a season-high seven points (four goals, three assists) in a 13-7 win over Syosset on May 4. She finished her career with 138 points (119 goals, 19 assists).

Ava McDonald, Huntington, D, Jr.

McDonald has been a disruptive presence for Huntington all season, using her toughness and sharp instincts to shut down attackers. The Delaware commit plays aggressively on the ball and consistently creates turnovers that lead to fast-break opportunities. She helped lead the Blue Devils to their first state Class A championship in a 9-6 win over Penfield (Section V).

Dylan McNamara, Sayville, M, Jr.

McNamara is a lethal scorer for the Golden Flashes, leading the team with 83 points (66 goals, 17 assists). She’s shifty on the offensive end, consistently cutting through traffic and finding time and room to finish. She recorded five points (four goals, one assist) in Sayville’s state Class C championship win over Jamesville-DeWitt (Section III). The Florida State commit has 185 career points (147 goals, 38 assists).

Michaela Molgano, Garden City, A, Sr.

Molgano had a dominant year for the Trojans, posting a team-high 103 points (66 goals, 37 assists). She is a high-IQ attacker who is effective both on- and off-ball. The UPenn commit recorded a season-high nine points (four goals, five assists) in a 16-8 win over Farmingdale on March 31. Molgano finished her career with 128 points (81 goals, 47 assists).

Olivia Mulada, Cold Spring Harbor, A, Jr.

Mulada is a powerhouse southpaw who is tough to stop. She put up 98 points (61 goals, 37 assists), including a season-high nine points (seven goals, two assists) in the Seahawks' state Class D semifinal win over Pleasantville (Section I). The Syracuse commit is especially dangerous while quarterbacking the offense from the X. She has 219 career points (130 goals, 89 assists).

Sophia Novelli, St. Anthony’s, D, Sr.

Novelli brings a physical, high-energy presence to St. Anthony’s already star-studded defense. The Vanderbilt commit’s athleticism allows her to cover ground quickly and challenge attackers from sideline to sideline. She excels at forcing mistakes and disrupting offensive rhythm, turning two turnovers into goals this season.

Ava Obloj, West Islip, M, Sr.

Obloj tallied 62 points (48 goals, 14 assists) on West Islip’s strong run into the Suffolk Class B playoffs. She is a strong two-way midfielder who impacts every play. Obloj was also a gritty asset on the draw for the Lions. The Florida commit amassed 266 points (178 goals, 88 assists) in her five-year varsity career.

Emma Speed, St. Anthony’s, A, Sr.

One of the strongest offensive players in the nation, Speed led the Friars’ offense with 82 points (62 goals, 20 assists) while competing against one of the most demanding and nationally competitive schedules in the country. The Florida commit has dynamic stick skills, vision and high lacrosse IQ, allowing her to control possessions and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.

Averie Smith, Garden City, A, Sr.

Smith is the ultimate playmaker with exceptional vision from behind the cage. She recorded a well-balanced 86 points (45 goals, 41 assists), showcasing her versatility to both score and feed. Smith notched a season-high six points on six different occasions this year. The Yale commit totaled 186 career points (103 goals, 83 assists).

Jolie Weinschreider, Huntington, M, Sr.

Weinschreider was the driving force behind the Blue Devils’ state title run. She tallied 80 points (55 goals, 25 assists) and showcased her athleticism in the midfield with hustle and grit. The Rutgers commit can finish through traffic and plays composed in high-pressure moments. She finished with 221 career points (162 goals, 59 assists).

Nassau Coach of the Year: Danielle Castellane, Cold Spring Harbor

After graduating a strong, 13-athlete senior class last season, no one was sure that the Seahawks could continue their reign. Castellane and her team proved the narrative wrong, earning the program’s third straight Class D state title in an 11-8 win over Penn Yan Academy (Section V) with a roster composed almost entirely of underclassmen. Cold Spring Harbor finished 16-5.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Megan Marinelli, Huntington

In her first year at the helm, Marinelli announced her arrival in a big way. She led Huntington to its second straight Long Island Class A title and later to its first state championship in program history. A Northport alum, Marinelli defeated her former high school coach in double overtime in the county semifinals. Huntington finished 20-2.