Sayville girls lacrosse's Sophia Buffardi has mastered the art of the draw
Sophia Buffardi, senior lacrosse player from Sayville, New York. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
Like any sport, lacrosse is a game of possession. If you can control the ball, you can control the game.
To begin the game and after each goal, the official places the ball between the heads of two opposing players’ sticks. On the whistle, both players force the ball into the air and fight for possession. There are also two teammates positioned on the outside of the circle.
To the untrained eye, the draw may look like a jump ball — a 50/50 opportunity won by whichever player is bigger or stronger. The skill, strategy and communication that actually goes into it often goes unnoticed.
Push or pull, draw straight up or out to the circle, every draw specialist has their own technique. Sayville midfielder Sophia Buffardi, the No. 4 nationally-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026, has this part of the game down to a science.
“It depends on the way the ball is positioned in the sticks, but I love to draw to myself,” said Buffardi, who will play at North Carolina next year. “I have the confidence that I can control it, but I also know that if I can't, my teammates on the circle have my back.”
Buffardi tallied 89 draw controls last season on the Golden Flashes’ road to the Class C county final. Hooked on the feeling of a state title win in 2024, Buffardi said she and her team are hungry to get back on that stage.
Mastering the draw will be instrumental in getting there.
“In bigger games, winning the draw is giving the defense a rest, it’s giving the goalie a rest, and it gives the offense more time to score when it matters,” Buffardi said. “Every possession matters and if we can win the draw, we keep getting possession.”
She’s proved her dominance on the circle, but Buffardi didn’t get this good alone.
Courtney Weeks, who played lacrosse at Bayport-Blue Point and graduated in 2018, was part of Sayville’s 2024 state title run when she joined the staff after playing lacrosse at Boston College.
Weeks quickly took over as a draw coach, and her philosophy made all the difference. Not only does the possession matter, but having the chance to breathe, reset and refocus after each goal is something Sayville does not take for granted.
“It's kind of the game within the game,” Weeks said. “Even winning just one draw can change a game. Some people think it's a small part, but getting that possession and having the girls refocus every single time before the next draw is huge for them.”
As she gets a feel for her opponent, Buffardi said her technique may change throughout the game. With Weeks’ help, everyone on Sayville’s draw circle plays a dangerous role.
“[Weeks] taught us how important communication is on the circle,” Buffardi said. “If I’m pushing the ball to the circle, my teammates need to know where to be. If we’re on the same page, we can really take advantage and capitalize on the draw.”
Buffardi’s 89 draw controls ranked fourth among some elite draw specialist stats from last season. At the top of the list is Friends Academy senior Alexa Cohen, who posted a lofty 155 draw controls. The Haverford commit won 74% of her draws and is a focal point of the Friends Academy offense.
Cohen is followed by Connetquot sophomore Jennavieve Lineman’s 111 and Comsewogue senior Kamryn McCrary’s 107. Cohen, Lineman, McCrary and Buffardi are each dominant righties, which Weeks said has an impact on strategy.
“Righties typically push the ball forward, down the 50 [yard line] or open up to their outside shoulder,” Weeks said. “Lefties can [have] a big advantage on the draw as they can open up in either direction, pull further and their positioning is more difficult to read.”
Islip senior and Boston College commit Caitlin Barnes is the only lefthanded player in the top 10, tallying 74 draw controls last year.
Many different traits — skill, strength, communication — factor into what makes a great draw specialist. Most importantly, however, is an athlete’s mindset. Weeks said what makes Buffardi so dangerous on the draw is that she wants the ball more than anyone.
“A great draw taker means being a complete player,” Weeks said. “What’s made Sophia such a great draw taker is that she's a competitor. She wants to win not only for herself, but for her teammates. All three people on the circle have to be the grittiest, hardest working players on the field.”
Top returning draw specialists
155: Alexa Cohen, Friends Academy, M, Sr.
111: Jennavieve Lineman, Connetquot, M, Soph.
107: Kamryn McCrary, Comsewogue, M, Sr.
89: Sophia Buffardi, Sayville, M, Sr.
86: Elizabeth Vitale, Locust Valley, M, Soph.
82: Kaitlyn Brewer, Bay Shore, D/M, Sr.
81: Gianna Felicetti, Kellenberg, A, Sr.
80: Page Kellershon, Mattituck, M, Sr.
74: Caitlin Barnes, Islip, A, Sr.
72: tie: Ashley Mennella, Smithtown West, A, Sr.; Madison Reedy, Carle Place, M, Jr.
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
