Senior Night is always an evening to reflect on the wonderful accomplishments of the senior class and to send them out in style. That is certainly what the Sachem North varsity girls lacrosse team did as they used a huge second half effort to dominate Riverhead, 16-8, on Thursday. The game was highlighted by a 8-1 second half for Sachem after holding just a two-goal break at the half.
The Riverhead offense was the story early collecting five of the games first six goals, claiming a 5-1 lead with 17:19 left in the first half. Sachem would respond with a four-goal run capped off on a tally by Junior Jessica Mazliah who finished with a game high 4 goals 5assists. Riverhead would take a brief 6-5 lead before senior Taylor Corcoran(two goals) tied the game and Junior Melissa Liebold netted back-to-back goals to give Sachem a 8-6 halftime lead.
After a touching halftime ceremony, the Flaming Arrows came out energized and played there best half of lacrosse of the season. Continuing a dominant defensive performance which started with 9:27 left in the first half, North held Riverhead scoreless until 1:58 remaining in the game, a 31 minute, 29 second span. The defense was led by seniors Sam Raulli, Amanda Longo and Jenna Nostramo, feshman Madison Hoffer, and sophomore Monica Grismer.
The offensive output was tremendous as well in half two. Mazliah started the second half quickly with a unassisted goal just 40 seconds in. Sophomore Brooke Basso scored her third goal of the game and Junior Kat Avanzato scored back to back goals just 1:02 apart to make the score 12-6 North with 17:11 remaining.
Sachem’s final goal capped an 11-0 scoring run when Raulli found senior Frannie Barilla on the crease for her third goal of the season sending the Sachem bench and crowd into a frenzy over the Class of ’13 valedictorian’s quick finish. Sophomore Kaitlyn Lynch was strong n goal registering nine saves.
The win made all the difference to head coach Ed Manly.
“We really wanted to finish this season off right for our senior or class,” Manly said. “It was a really bizarre season with so many injuries, I am very proud of the way our kids battled all season. We have a very bright future with such a young and experienced team coming back and a JV squad that went 14-1. I think Sachem North will be much more competitive in 2014.”