Playing for late friend, Arlington's Talia Berardo scores meaningful goal in runaway win
Talia Berardo was convinced there were supernatural forces at work. There was no way a shooter, known for her precise shot placement, could’ve blown that many opportunities in succession.
She successfully maneuvered through the defense, or had teammates find her with passes in advantageous spots, but those first nine attempts at the goal all missed or were saved — even ones from close range.
“That was Madi,” Berardo said, the Arlington High School girls lacrosse player shaking her head while smiling. “That was her, looking down and messing with me. That was her kind of humor. I know it.”
Maybe. After all, their relationship was built on them finding comedy in awkward moments.
They both were members of the Dutchess Monarchs club lacrosse program and held each other as acquaintances, but not quite friends. Until the vomit happened.
Madison Lynch-Dingee was exhausted, the energetic midfielder having just played at her usual frenetic pace under the broiling July sun during a travel tournament in Philadelphia. A group of players grabbed lunch shortly thereafter... and Madi’s meal ended up on Berardo’s shoes.
“That actually sparked our friendship because it gave us something to laugh about together,” Berardo said of the incident five years ago that she looks back on now even more fondly. “We became really close after that. I loved that she could laugh at herself and find humor in anything.”
Madison died last December in a car crash along Route 82 in Washington, just days before her 17th birthday. Remembered for her charisma and effervescence, she left behind several friends, including players on other scholastic teams, who have paid tribute and honored her memory this lacrosse season.
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“The outside of her was a beautiful picture of someone who was put together, but the inside was even more wonderful,” Madison’s mom, Louise Lynch, said on Tuesday. “She was kind and focused on other people’s needs. She brought the best version out of people.”
Well, in this instance, maybe not the best version of Berardo on the field as she was playing Tuesday against Our Lady of Lourdes , Madison’s former team.
The junior did eventually score, firing into the far corner while driving across from the left wing. Berardo leaped in celebration and let out a guttural scream before kneeling and pointing upward.
Her goal came with 3:59 remaining and created the margin in Arlington’s 6-1 victory over Lourdes. That tally meant far more sentimentally than it did in the box score.
“It felt incredible,” said Berardo, who wore Madison’s old red, white and blue headband and had her friend’s name written on her lacrosse stick. She was greeted by Louise Lynch after the game. “I scored for my girl. I wanted to score so badly in this game, to do it for her.”
Berardo has played most games with season with the No. 9 scrawled in eye black on her cheek. This time, she had the letter “M” drawn on her left calf. Even the bookbag she uses once belonged to Madison.
“Talia brings her spirit every time she plays,” Lynch said. “I think she was so hyper-focused that she wasn’t as accurate as she normally is. She was so passionate about what she wanted to do to honor Madi, and that means a lot.”
Three straight for Arlington
Berardo also had two assists and Molly Novak scored twice for Arlington, whose defense held Lourdes scoreless for the first 28 minutes. Jess Bianco added a goal and an assist, and Shannon Cunningham and Erin Crowe each had a goal.
The Admirals won their third consecutive game since debuting a new defense, a scheme that utilizes a backer. Novak, a natural midfielder, drops into a zone inside eight meters and is responsible for reading the offense and making plays on the ball while her teammates apply high pressure.
“It’s working really well,” said goalkeeper Simone Gillette, who made 14 saves. “We’re able to pick up the cutters a lot faster and we’re working better as a unit.”
Novak caused four turnovers and recovered three groundballs, anchoring a defense that has surrendered only six goals in its last two contests.
“I’m really proud of that because we weren’t able to do that earlier in the season,” Novak said. “To see a real improvement in our defense is encouraging.”
Lourdes’ Claire Bottjer scored, and Norah Zuidema made 16 saves. It’s taken a while for the rebuilding team to gel, coach Elizabeth LaTuso said, “but I think they’re starting to turn a corner.”
Teammates lifted
Even as the team struggled, losing nine of its first 10 games, morale never waned. That, Cunningham said, was due in part to Berardo’s attitude and zest.
“It hypes us all up,” she said. “As much as we laugh at her, we all know we value that energy. She keeps us focused in games, no matter what the score is. If there’s a mistake, she’s the first one to say, ‘It’s OK. Keep your head up.’ You need that when you’re going through tough times.”
Berardo has saved on her phone the iMessage conversations she had with Madison, including the premature birthday wish from a year ago.
“Every year she would text me, ‘Happy Birthday!’ on May 4,” said Berardo, whose birthday is May 11. “She mistakenly wished me a happy birthday a week early one time, so we turned it into a tradition.”
Missing nine shots against Madison’s former team, though, is a one-time thing. She hopes.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Arlington's Berardo honors friend Madison Lynch-Dingee
