Lacrosse Teams Host Score For A Cure

The Hauppauge High School lacrosse teams are getting ready to "Score for a Cure" this Saturday.

Hauppauge's lacrosse community will hold its first "Score For A Cure" fundraiser benefitting the HEADstrong foundation on Saturday at from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will feature the varsity team's annual non-league matches against Brewster High School with games and clinics for youth players.

"'Score for a Cure' is a slogan that HEADstrong uses, and we are building off of that to help them build awareness," said Rich Llinares, event organizer and father of varsity player Sam Llinares.

The HEADstrong foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to research a cure for blood cancer and helps those families affected by the disease, according to Llinares. The organization was formed by former Hofstra lacrosse player Nick Colleluori, who died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2006. 

To help the HEADstrong foundation, Hauppauge's lacrosse teams have spent the past two years pulling together Saturday's fundraiser.

The events will begin with a youth clinic, open to both boys and girls, taught by Hauppauge boys varsity's assistant coaches Greg Foster and Kevin Travis at 9 a.m. The clinic will cover basic stick and ball handling skills, Rich Llinares said.

Hauppauge youth players will take over the fields from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. The undefeated Lady Eagles will take on Brewster High School at 3:30 p.m., followed by the boys varsity game at 5:30 p.m.

Community events will include raffles prizes including gift baskets from local merchants, a barbecue cookout with hamburgers and hotdogs for purchase and more, according to Llinares.

Lacrosse fans are encouraged to wear the color lime green, event organizers said, to show their support for the HEADstrong foundation. T-shirts, water bottles and other apparel from the nonprofit will be available for purchase.

Llinares said organizers are expecting between 500 to 1,000 people to attend the event. There is no cost for admission. The rain date is May 8.