SCHOLASTIC SPOTLIGHT

BY MARC MATURO

Midfielder McNamara a leader of New York City FC

West Nyack native and one-time FC Westchester standout Tommy McNamara keeps on kicking.

McNamara, in his third year as a professional player, continues to be a cog on the New York City FC side, which snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Yankee Stadium.

McNamara, a midfielder, provided his team-tying third assist on the decisive goal, Steven Mendoza’s first career goal, before an enthusiastic paid crowd of 25,438.

The former Brown University and Clemson University all-American made his pro debut and scored his first professional goal on March 9, 2014 with Chivas USA, but tore his ACL just six games into the season.

Chivas USA left him unprotected for the MLS Dispersal Draft at which time McNamara was acquired by D.C. United, but 21 days later he was selected by NYCFC in the expansion draft.

This season, the 25-year-old McNamara has two goals after collecting five goals and three assists in 15 starts last season.

McNamara & Co. return to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night to meet D.C. United in a key game at 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium. (The next home game at Yankee Stadium is scheduled May 21 at 3 p.m. against New York Red Bulls.)

NYCFC, currently with a qualifying playoff berth, needs to keep winning as it remains tied for fourth place with D.C. United and Orlando City FC, each with 10 points in the MLS Eastern Conference. They trail conference-leading Montreal Impact, Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC.

“Every game is an opportunity to score goals, but what is most important for me is getting (winning) results – who happens to score doesn’t matter,” McNamara was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, down in Miami, Fla., midfielder Robert “Baggio” Kcira of New City is playing with Miami FC. The Miami side meets the Cosmos on May 7 at 8 p.m. at FIU Stadium on the campus of Florida International University.

Kcira, who has European experience, is the youngest player with Miami FC at 22 years of age.

IT’S TARA TIME: North Rockland HS alumna Tara Monaghan of Stony Point was honored as SUNY Cortland’s Female Senior Athlete of the Year in a C-Club ceremony at the college’s Alumni Area. Some 600-plus athletes competed on Cortland’s 25 men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams during the past year. Monaghan ranks third in school women’s lacrosse history with 216 career goals, third with 291 draw controls, and seventh with 252 total points. She leads the undefeated and top-ranked Red Dragons this spring with 60 goals and 34 ground balls.

PENN RELAYS: Division II Dominican College did its best on the big stage at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, as the Chargers’ 4×400 (essentially the mile relay) placed third with a school-standard 3:25.34 clocking. The event was won by the University of Connecticut, a Division I representative. The Chargers, coached by Jamie Kempton of Nanuet, were anchored by Pearl River HS graduate Michael Merced, a latecomer to the track after transitioning from basketball in his senior year with the Pirates. Merced turned in his best time of the season, with a 48.7 split. Leading off was DeCarlo Richards of Ramapo, followed by Adrian Spaulding of New Castle, Del., and Monroe-Woodbury HS alum Seth Wilson. Richards also led off in the 4×100, with Dominican finishing sixth in its heat with a time of 44.14. Richards was followed by Andrew Pierre of Spring Valley, Clarkstown South graduate Dylan Roadarmel and then Wilson. 

LEW, SETTERS SUCCEED: Pace University sophomore shortstop Ashley Lew of New City was named a first-team member on the Northeast-10 all-conference softball team. Long-time head coach Claudia Stabile was named Coach of the Year after the Setters went 26-14, raising Stabile’s lifetime number of victories to 669 in a 34-year career. Lew, an alumna of Clarkstown North High School, had a spectacular offensive season, batting .410 with 35 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. She finished the regular season tied for second with a .446 batting average in conference matchups. Lew tied for first with 25 runs scored in NE-10 games. The Setters’ leadoff hitter had an on-base percentage of .500 for the season, and .538 in NE-10 games. She knocked in 14 runs, with six doubles, a triple and a home run. The Setters, seeded No. 6 in the East Region are heading to Garden City, where Adelphi University will host the NCAA East 2 Regional May 5-7. Pace is scheduled to open against third-seeded Adelphi.

COLLEGIATE CLIPS: North Rockland HS alum Mike Cruz of West Haverstraw doubled in the long jump and triple jump as the Cortland men’s outdoor track and field team competed at the Ithaca College Quad Meet. Cruz leaped 19 feet 9 and three-quarter inches to win the long jump, and he won the triple jump at 39 feet 10 inches against athletes from the host school, Delhi and Herkimer County Community College. Katie Ellsworth of Suffern was runner-up in the long jump at 15-feet. … The Mercy College women’s lacrosse team qualified for the East Coast Conference championships, with considerable help from senior midfielder Meg McNally of Hillburn. McNally was fourth on the team in scoring with 39 points as the Mavericks went 12-4 to establish a regular-season record win total. The ECC semifinals are scheduled May 5. … Albertus Magnus HS alumna Lauren Cappello of New City and junior Megan Carbia of Tomkins Cove are members on the SUNY New Paltz softball team, which is competing in the SUNYAC Tournament today through Sunday. The NCAA Division III Regional is set for May 13-14. … Sophomore outfielder Brendan Bisset of New City has made 26 starting appearances for the 13-25 baseball tea, at Manhattan College. Pearl River HS graduate Michael Scarinci of Nanuet, a right-hand hurler, is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 18 appearances on the mound, including two starts, for the Jaspers, who visit Niagara for three games May 7-8. … Senior senior Brandon Hickey (Pearl River/The Harvey School) caused two turnovers and picked up four ground balls.Zach Hopps (Akwesasne/Massena) matched his career high with nine points on six goals and three assists to become Cortland’s career-scoring leader and tied the career mark for assists as the Red Dragons wrapped up their regular season with a 20-4 win versus Oneonta Saturday afternoon in SUNYAC action at the Stadium Complex.

GREAT CAUSE: Tappan Zee High School athletic director Liam Frawley needs your help and the public continues to respond. “The Frawley Strong” Blood Drive has been scheduled on June 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the school gymnasium. Frawley is recovering from a traumatic brain hemorrhage caused by an aneurysm, and the Blood Drive is another facet in the “Paying It Forward” campaign formed by his dedicated family. Also, beginning next week two websites are expected to be up and running: FRAWLEYSTRONG.com and FRAWWLEYSTRONG.ORG. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

THIS & THAT: The Rockland Road Runners are again hosting a summer-long weekly series of workouts at Pearl River High School. RRR members and non-members alike are invited to convene each Wednesday at 7 p.m. through the end of August. … A WISE/R Special Event is set for  June 21 in Manhattan   .  Women in Sports and Events is hosting a special evening with the WISE Women of the Year honorees: Renie Anderson (NFL), Kathy Behrens (NBA) and Karen Brodkin (WME | IMG).  Advance registration only: http://wiseworks.org/buzz/wwoy/specialevent/ … The Cynopsis Sports Business Summit will be held June 22 in Manhattan. The agenda at: http://cdn.cynopsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sports-Business-Summit_Agenda-SM.pdf