Sayville girls lacrosse team advances to state final after dominant defense leads way
Carly Cangelosi celebrates after scoring one of her three goals in Sayville's state semifinal girls lacrosse win in Cortland on June 12, 2026. Credit: Todd F. Michalek
CORTLAND — The Sayville girls lacrosse team hasn’t allowed more than eight goals in a game all season.
The Golden Flashes’ opponent in the state Class C semifinals on Friday was Section I champion Rye, which had averaged nearly 18 goals per game in its previous eight contests.
Then the Garnets met the Sayville defense, and the Golden Flashes slowed them down in an 11-7 victory at SUNY Cortland that moved them one step closer to the program’s second state title.
Sayville beat Rye for the crown in 2024 to cap a 21-0 season. Now the Golden Flashes (20-0) will face Jamesville-Dewitt in the state championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Tessa Meehan, Paige Manning, Maddie Anderson, Olivia DeSimone and Morgan Farrell formed a strong and disciplined defensive unit that held Rye to four goals through the first three quarters.
“We’ve held opponents to an average of 5.6 goals per game, which is unheard of,” Sayville coach Gary Jensen said. “They are so connected. It’s their communication. They always know where each other will be, and if you want to win a championship, it starts with defense.”
Rye (16-5) opened the scoring 1:25 into the game before Sayville went on a run, eventually building its largest lead at 9-3 with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Twenty-four seconds after Rye’s opening goal, Carly Cangelosi fired a shot home after a split dodge to tie it.
The Golden Flashes then began to seize control, scoring the next four goals. Cangelosi’s second goal extended the lead to 5-1 with 10:33 remaining in the second quarter.
“We’ve been preparing all season for this,” said Cangelosi, who had three goals. “In counties and LICs, we had close games, so we were ready for this. Our defense stepped up, and today was a team win.”
Sophia Buffardi rifled home two goals off free-position attempts, added two assists and recorded seven draw controls.
“We focused on our game plan and we executed,” she said. “In the draw circle, we’ve done it all season long. We’re just connected, and today we were able to really put it together again.”
Rye cut its deficit to 9-6 with just over eight minutes left in the game, but Farrell provided the insurance Sayville needed by scoring the next two goals.
“Two of the goals they scored were my fault,” she said. “I knew I had to get that back somehow. My defense always has my back, and I just wanted to reciprocate.
“Winning this game gives me chills. I just want it for this team so badly, and every single girl on this team wants it and deserves it.”
