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Sports

East Field Hockey Falls Short In County Title Game

Ward Melville strikes in OT to knock off upset-minded Arrows.

To beat Ward Melville, teams in Suffolk County took aim at playing the perfect game, and during the regular season, no squad played the Patriots tougher than Sachem East.

The two sides met once again Thursday, only this time with the Suffolk County Class A crown at stake. For an hour, the teams were dead even, but with just over three minutes gone in overtime, Ward Melville's persistence paid off as Sam Jacobson redirected a rebound into the goal for the game's only score, giving No. 1 Patriots a 1-0 victory and their fourth consecutive county title.

The Patriots' win set up a rematch with Nassau County champion Massapequa in Sunday's Long Island title game at C.W. Post (2 p.m.).

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"The kids played hard all game," Sachem East head coach Tina Moon said. "There's no reason to have their heads down. They came to compete and they did a great job. A lot of things didn't go our way."

In overtime, the third-seeded Arrows (13-4) had an early surge that was thwarted by the Ward Melville defense. The Patriots raced in the other direction, with Jacobson and Abby Beltrani having just the goalie, Jordan Miller, between it and the title. The ball was directed just wide, setting up the Patriots' 16th penalty corner of the match.

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During regulation, Beltrani had shot missile after missile from the top but came up empty. The ball was pushed her way again in OT, and instead of unleashing another shot, she swung it to Callie Vitalo. Her attempt was denied as well, but Jacobson collected the rebound and lifted it inside the left post for the game-winner.

"It felt amazing," Jacobson said. "I was just in disbelief. … When Callie took the shot, I wanted to get it right back. We figured if we keep pounding the goalie, eventually it's going to go in."

The Arrows were the only team in the county to score multiple goals in a game against Ward Melville, falling 3-2 on the road, during the regular season. On Thursday, they became the first squad to hold Melville scoreless during regulation and also to take the perennially strong Pats to overtime. Moon credited a stout defense, as well as sophomore goalie Jordan Miller.

"She played great," Moon said. "Jordan's a kid who always comes ready to play. She doesn't think much, she just reacts."

East did well to escape the first half without giving up a goal. Sachem had earned the game's first penalty corner and controlled play for the opening five minutes, but the majority what remained in the half was dominated by Melville. Beltrani had her share of rockets from the top of the circle. However, while their edge in time of possession was significant, the Patriots weren't able to crack the Sachem defense.

Momentum swayed in East's favor during the second half, particularly in the waning moments. With eight minutes remaining, the Arrows were given a corner but Katie Trombetta's blast was booted away by Ward Melville goalie Lauren Tarantino;

Sachem was then put in a difficult spot with 5:36 to go in regulation as a player was sent off for a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct call. Seconds later, East drew another corner despite being a man down, East drew another corner. This time, Trombetta's shot beat Tarantino, but Patriot defender Deryn Blaney was able to clear it off the line. A minute or so later, a Trombetta shot from near the sideline wove around defenders' legs but was saved by Tarantino.

"We had our opportunities," Moon said. "I've played on a championship team so I know what it's like to win. You have that edge. The ball bounces in your direction. We definitely played like champions though."

The loss spelled the end to several players' careers in Sachem Red, Black & Gold. That includes Kelly Doherty, Jillian Donodeo, Jenna Duggan, Melissa Fazio, Taylor Howell, Emily Locke, Samantha McGarry, Melissa McKeveny, Jackie Morrison, Megan Power, Casey Ruff and Meagan Thorp.

"This is a group of special young women," Moon said. "We have a lot of new players. We don't have five-year players, we have one-, two- and three-year players. I had 18 new players last year and they were a lot of them. They've done me so proud. I can't even be upset. I'm more shocked that the season's over."

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