Sacred Heart Greenwich Varsity A lacrosse team upends Phillips Exeter Academy at home, 16-6

By David Fierro on May 5, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: Peyla Carcaterra, left, of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Varsity A lacrosse team scored a game-high six goals in the Tigers’ 16-6 home win over Philips Exeter Academy on May 3, 2025.

One of the characteristics of an excellent team is how quickly it recovers from a loss and Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Varsity A lacrosse squad certainly rebounded quickly from its defeat against Ridgefield High School.

Two days after losing on the road to Ridgefield, Sacred Heart Greenwich was right back in top form when NEPSAC opponent Phillips Exeter Academy visited Sheehan Field on Saturday (May 3). The Tigers got back on the winning track in a big way, rolling to a resounding 16-6 victory, improving their record to a sparkling 11-2.

Freshman attack Peyla Carcaterra scored a game-high five goals, sophomore midfielder Maggie Sweeney recorded four goals and two assists and senior midfielder/attack Charley Bacigalupo registered a hat trick with three assists to propel the Tigers past visiting Phillips Exeter Academy.

“Our last game was a loss, so we sat down and talked together and really figured it out,” said Bacigalupo, a team captain. “I think this was a great game to get back into it. ” We improved drastically from last game and we are really playing as a team now, which makes a difference.”

**Photo by Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: From left to right, Georgia Lillis (No. 2), Addie Callaway (No. 4), Ryan Hodge (No. 9), Charley Bacigalupo (No. 3) and Daphne Fallon (No. 24) of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Varsity A lacrosse team get ready for action.

The Tigers took a 4-1 lead on Exeter into the second half, then entered halftime with a 10-5 advantage. Sacred Heart seized a 6-1 advantage after Carcaterra’s goal off the draw and after Phillips Exter drew to within 8-5, the hosts scored two straight goals to open a five-goal edge.

“They’re a great team and I think it came down to possession,” SHG assistant coach Stephanie Serino said. “We won the majority of the draw controls and I think our tempo on attack is what we needed to see.”

Bacigalupo had eight draw controls, eighth grader Lily Sullivan won three draw controls and senior captain Daphne Fallon, who also ignited the Tigers’ offense with three goals, had a draw control as well.

**Photo courtesy of Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Varsity A lacrosse team topped Phillips Exeter Academy.

“I thought our offense did amazing today, we’ve been having struggles the past couple of games connecting and this was a great way to come back together and trust each other,” Fallon said. “We were able to connect on passes, on shots and we did an awesome job.”

The second half belonged to the Tigers, who outscored the visitors, 6-1.

“I think we really connected, the last few games we were a little bit down, but I think since we all met together, we’ve all been on the same page,” Carcaterra said of the team’s offensive unit. “Once we trust each other and put faith in each other’s abilities and skills we all connected.”

**Photo by Tara Shea Bacigalupo:** Maggie Sweeney, left, of Sacred Heart Greenwich looks to move the ball during a home game against Phillips Exeter Academy on May 3, 2025. The Tigers won the game, 16-6.

Indeed, Carcaterra and the underclassmen on the Tigers have certainly made an impact this spring.

“It’s so fun being a part of this team,” Carcaterra said. “The captains are great everyone is such a great influence, everyone empowers each other.”

Georgia Lillis had a goal and Ryan Hodge assisted on two goals in the winning effort. Goalies Addy Flinchbaugh, who played in the first half and Olivia Franco, who was in action in the second half, were stellar throughout for SHG, which received strong defensive play.

**Photo courtesy of Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Varsity A team’s offensive unit gathers during a break in action of their game versus Phillips Exeter Academy at Sheehan Field at Sacred Heart. SHG won the game, 16-6.

“The defense played very disciplined,” said SHG senior defender/captain Maddy Hartnett. “We’ve been focusing on discipline this whole week and we just stayed in our zone and it was very effective today. We were able to shut down their top players and that was the key to success for us today.”

The Tigers exhibited discipline on both ends of the field, while having the possession advantage.

“Our focus was to be more disciplined on attack and wait for their defense to break down,” Serino noted. ” We won the draw circle today and that was our main goal. It was a team effort.”

**Photo by Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: Lily Sullivan of the Tigers, left, takes the draw against Phillips Exeter Academy.

“The key was the draw, you can’t score if you don’t have possession,” Bacigalupo said. “Lily (Sullivan) did a great job on the draw circle, she was amazing and we weren’t turning it over. We were having really good, long possessions and our defense was helping us out.”

Up next for Sacred Heart is a showdown against Darien High School tomorrow (May 6) in what should be an outstanding matchup. The game at Sacred Heart’s Sheehan Field is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

**Photo courtesy of Tara Shea Bacigalupo**: Georgia Lillis (No. 2) and Casey Smith (No. 16) pursue a Phillips Exeter athlete during Varsity A lacrosse action at Sheehan Field on May 3, 2025. The Tigers topped Phillips Exeter, 16-6.

“It’s been so fun, so amazing,” Fallon said of the Tigers’ season so far. “I think from the beginning we came out super strong and we had ups and downs, wins and losses and we’ve been able to battle back. By having such supportive and awesome teammates, we’ve been able to come together through all of our games and find success and it’s more than I could ask for.”