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Royals fall 3-1 in state tourney
FIELD HOCKEY
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Despite their 3-1 loss to Marathon Saturday in the New York State finals at Vestal, the Port Jefferson field hockey team played their hearts out. The Royals, seeded sixth among Class C schools in September, finished as the second-ranked team in New York State.
"We had a couple of nice wins along the way," said head coach Deb Brown. "We lost to the top two teams — Miller Place and Shoreham-Wading River — but we beat everybody else."
The Royals finished the 2009 season with a solid 15-6 overall record including their playoff run. "I was surprised that we made it to the finals," Brown said. "We were just happy to be back upstate."
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| | | | The Port Jefferson field hockey team poses proudly in front of a New York State tournament sign. Courtesy of Deb Ferry. (click for larger version) | | |
But perhaps not happy with meeting up with field hockey superpower Marathon, a team which now boasts nine New York State championships and had handily disposed of Port Jefferson in the 2007 semifinals. Now two years later the two schools squared off for the state championship.
"I felt that we were a little intimidated of them at the start," said Port Jefferson senior captain Nancy Gallagher. "But as the game went on we got used to them and we eventually got a goal off them. I thought about the Rocky Point game when we were down 1-0 and came back to win."
The Royals held Marathon in check before their opponents broke through with a goal at 14:35. Shortly thereafter, with the Royals reeling from injuries, Marathon scored again to take a 2-0 lead. They made it 3-0 with 21:35 remaining of the second period but still the Royals kept trying to come back.
Port Jefferson finally put one in the back of the net with 3:36 remaining in the half as Ryan McEwen smacked the ball past the Marathon goalie. Amber Bruckner got the assist. "It was off a corner," said McEwen. "I was at the weak-side post and gave it a good push in."
"We knew that Marathon had an intense group," Brown said. "They had won eight state titles. But it's not like we just gave them the title, they were just the better team. I'm proud of our girls in that they didn't put their heads down and quit when we went down 2-0. We came back and scored on them and I thought that our defense played well. Two years ago we came away with nothing. This year we got medals."
"Maura had a phenomenal playoff," Brown added referencing to the play of senior goalie Maura Boehm. Boehm racked up nine saves against Marathon to go along with the 10 saves she accrued in the Royals 2-1 semifinal win over Hoosick Falls the day before. Since Oct. 20 when the Royals lost, 3-1, to Miller Place Boehm had allowed just six goals in seven games including back-to-back shutouts of Rocky Point, Riverhead and Pierson.
Once the playoffs began Boehm was a big money player, allowing four goals in four games leading to the state championship game. Discounting the small school championship game against Shoreham-Wading River, Boehm had allowed just two goals in three playoff games before the Royals faced Marathon.
"It was sad to lose," said Boehm. "But I was so proud with how far we had come. It was a great experience. Everyone brought an entirely new game to it."
Boehm and the other returning Royals will get another shot at a New York State title next year. The Royals lose only six players and the experience gained this year could have them finally landing that elusive first-ever state field hockey championship.
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