At the halfway point of Stephanie Sumcizk’s first season as coach, Rye Country Day’s girls lacrosse team is 8-0.
Sumcizk, who coached Port Chester last year, expected big things from the Wildcats, who went 18-2 in 2025, but also knew the team’s first year against FAA competition could be a challenge. So far, it’s nothing her team can’t handle.
“They’re a special group of athletes,” Sumcizk said. “All 24 of them have such an important role they play. Our two key things we keep telling ourselves is to have composure and discipline. When we do that as unit, it’s beautiful lacrosse.”
Sumcizk, a Long Island native, has experience playing for and coaching talented teams. As a player at Iona, she was MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-MAAC honors. Upon graduation, she joined the Iona coaching staff under current Rye High School coach Michelle Mason.
After Iona, Sumcizk moved on to high school lacrosse, first at Rye Neck, helping lead the Panthers to their first sectional appearance in program history. She moved up Boston Post Road onto the staff of Holy Child, developing the defense and draw team as an assistant coach. She eventually took the head coaching job at Port Chester before making her return to Rye this season.
Last week, the Wildcats played three games in six days, winning all three by multiple goals. The closest call came against Greenwich, which scored three straight before Sumcizk called a timeout.
“I told them, ‘Let’s take a deep breath at this point and focus on us,’ because we got frazzled,” Sumcizk said. “Coming out of that timeout, our girls ran with it.”
Rye Country Day won 19-12, then two days later beat St. Luke’s School 15-2. On Saturday, Sumcizk said the Wildcats played one of their most complete games from start to finish, winning 11-5 at Green Farms Academy.
The team’s standouts on the attacking end and midfield are juniors Elle Mason and Maya Torgalkar.
“Elle has had multiple games with five goals,” Sumcizk said, “and Maya is one to reckon with on the draw. They’ve both been outstanding.”
The defensive leaders in front of senior keeper Dylan Fenyes have been senior Claire Keating and junior Bailey Donovan.
“Without them, our defense would fall apart,” Sumcizk said. “They quarterback it, and communicate it. They really do everything back there for us in terms of holding it down. We have a bunch of rising stars, which is super exciting to watch them grow and develop, but our team leans on those four leaders.”
While Sumcizk said the team will enjoy the undefeated record as long as it lasts, the ultimate goal is to emerge as victors in the FAA tournament, May 12-14. Next up on the Wildcats’ journey to get there is a game Monday at Long Island Lutheran, followed by another road game Wednesday at Hackley School.
