Two Lacrosse Communities Unite To Score For A Cure

The Hauppauge lacrosse community welcomed Brewster High School athletes to Score For A Cure this Saturday. The event celebrates a 10-year friendship built between the two lacrosse communities by the varsity coaches.

“This started because I wanted to find a way to keep in touch with Gerry Walsh,” said Jerry Goodfellow, head coach of the Hauppauge boys lacrosse team. “It’s one way to keep a friendship going.”

Goodfellow said he first met Brewster High School lacrosse coach, Gerry Walsh while playing a friendly match in college. Goodfellow played for SUNY Brockport while Walsh was on the opposing SUNY Cortland team.

When the two friends went different ways after college, Goodfellow said they were searching for a way to stay in touch. When both took up coaching positions at local high schools, they arranged for a friendly match between Hauppauge and Brewster’s varsity boys teams.

“It’s been a great way to get to meet one another each year, and some long-term friendships have formed,” said Michael Honey, Brewster’s boys varsity coach.

The girls varsity lacrosse programs were asked to join in the annual tradition last year, after Gerry Walsh switched from coaching Brewster’s boys to the girls varsity team, according to Goodfellow. 

Hauppauge lacrosse players set to work early Saturday morning, preparing for the Brewster teams' arrival. A large blue-and-white sign reading "Welcome Brewster Lacrosse" was put up in anticipation.

Local youth lacrosse players attended a clinic taught by boys varsity assistant coaches Greg Foster and Kevin Travis that taught basic stick and ball handling skills in the morning. Then local teams then competed in a small tournament at the high school. 

The main events of the festival started as the Hauppauge girls lacrosse team beat the Brewster Bears, 13-4, adding another victory to their undefeated season. The Eagles boys lacrosse team celebrated a 14-5 victory over the Bears.

All concession stand sells throughout the event will be donated to the HEADstrong foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises fund for blood cancers, that was started by former Hofstra lacrosse player Nick Colleluori.