Playing lacrosse at East Hampton High School, Melina Sarlo never dreamed that the sport she loved would take her around the world, but this summer, she had the opportunity of a lifetime, playing for Argentina in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo.
“I definitely didn’t imagine that I’d be going to Japan for lacrosse,” said Sarlo, a 2024 graduate who is now a junior at Hofstra University. “I’m so lucky it’s been able to give me such opportunities and experiences.”
Sarlo holds dual American and Argentine citizenship through her mother. This summer, she, her mother, Paula Sarlo, and her aunt, Yanina Cuesta, the high school’s girls varsity track coach, traveled to Japan together.
“I think my history as a cheerleader, coach, and proud aunt were not held back in Tokyo. If you talk to any of my athletes or co-workers they’ll tell you how loud I am,” Cuesta joked. “I was so proud to watch Melina play without abandonment, she truly shines and you can see her enjoying herself on the field with her teammates.”
Sarlo and her teammates had a strong showing in Tokyo. They arrived in Japan as the 16th seed among 16 teams, but quickly showed that they could compete with higher-ranked opponents, finishing atop the second pool of play and ninth over all.
“It was nice. People underestimated us,” Sarlo said.
She arrived in Japan three days before competition began to adjust to the 13-hour time difference, but also had to contend with some wild weather. Thunder and lightning disrupted the opening ceremonies and storms delayed the team’s first game against 10th-seeded Scotland by a day. The postponement was no problem for Argentina, which defeated Scotland 15-12. Sarlo scored a goal and recorded an assist.
“It was a great start,” she said. “They were good competition. It was awesome to get a first win under our belt. I love playing with the Argentina team — the atmosphere, the girls, we all bring a competitive edge and it’s so fun. Playing for something bigger than me has more meaning behind it.”
Argentina lost its next game 11-7 to 11th-seeded Puerto Rico, a team Sarlo described as a difficult opponent because of the number of strong U.S. collegiate players on its roster. Despite the loss, Argentina never fell far behind in the game. The score was 8-7 entering the final minutes of the third quarter.
“We kept it close the entire game,” Sarlo said. “We just had a few mistakes toward the end, but we were fully competitive.”
The next day, Argentina faced third-seeded England and lost, 21-2. England went on to finish fifth in the championship, while Argentina moved into the bracket competing for ninth through 12th place.
The team responded with two close victories.
Argentina defeated Ireland 10-9 in another tight game that was tied 8-8 heading into the fourth quarter. Sarlo scored the 10th goal, which would end up being the game winner, and was named player of the match.
Her strong performance is no surprise to East Hampton’s varsity lacrosse coach, Joe DiGirolomo, who called Sarlo one of the best lacrosse players ever to graduate from the school.
“Melina has incredible talent, but what makes her a special player is her work ethic and her coachability. Melina would always lead with passion and do everything at 100 percent,” DiGirolomo said. “These qualities are allowing her to play at the next level at Hofstra and give her special experiences like the World Championship . . . all of which she has completely earned.”
After beating Ireland, Argentina followed up with an extraordinary 9-8 win over the Philippines, securing ninth place.
“We scored the final goal with six seconds left and won,” Sarlo said. “That was a really fun game. We were playing and then there was a rain delay so we had an hour break and when we went out there it was downpouring the entire time. It was so fun. There was so much energy. It was so close the entire time.”
While the tournament was over, Sarlo’s experience in Japan was just beginning. She stayed on for a week with her mother and aunt, visiting Hakone, a mountain town about 50 miles from Tokyo with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, as well as Kyoto.
“Kyoto was my favorite. There’s so much to do. There’s city life, but also nature and temples and shrines everywhere,” she said.
For Cuesta, the trip was an opportunity not only to watch Sarlo compete but also to see her navigate a new culture.
“Traveling across the world and watching Melina experience another culture and getting a firsthand look at how she handled any obstacles was a delight,” Cuesta said. “Sometimes there was a little bit of stress — when one doesn’t speak the language, things can get difficult — but she was always able to gather herself and make the most of it.”
Sarlo said the trip gave her an appreciation for everyday life in Japan, something her mother experienced when she first visited the country 20 years ago. Paula had saved her yen and taken them on the trip. Among Melina’s biggest first impressions: the cleanliness and the quiet.
“Everything is so clean,” she said. “Walking in the city [Tokyo], I only heard one car horn the entire time. No one is yelling. No one is honking. There is no trash anywhere on the streets. On public transit, no one is talking. Everyone is quiet. Crossing the street, no one crosses unless the light is green.”
“The experience was amazing,” Sarlo said. “Getting to see the shrines, temples, and the culture, and experiencing a change of pace compared with here was very awesome. I’m very lucky to have gotten the chance to experience it.”
