Field hockey: Pesky, physical Suffern ties Mamaroneck in championship game redux
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- September
- 21
The two teams that appeared in last year’s Section 1 Class A final met again this afternoon at Flint Park in Larchmont. And that, field hockey fans, was about where the similarities ended.
The teams played to a draw, tying 0-0 after Mamaroneck failed to convert on two major advantages in the final seven minutes of the games. 1. The Tigers were up two players after Suffern was whistled for two five-minute penalties but failed to take advantage. 2. They also had three penalty corners in the final 90 seconds and none ended in the winner despite heavy pressure on the net.
I have to file my story still, but what stuck out most was how much this game and the emotions showed by both sides contrasted with the last time (or times) they met. Mamaroneck appeared crushed after the final horn sounded. Its coach, John Savage, told me he and his players can accept a loss when they play well and play hard; he didn’t believe they met that standard today. Apparently, the girls, who were anguished and teary afterward, agreed.
Remember: Mamaroneck defeated Suffern 6-0 (regular season) and 4-0 (Class A final) last year. It has graduated seven starters since then, including numerous college players and our player of the year. That relative youth showed against Suffern, which played a physical and determined game in front of goalkeeper Toni Pjetri.
The Mounties, on the other hand, were ecstatic postgame. They cheered one another and screamed as if they had won a sectional game. Not only had they tied mighty Mamaroneck — a team Suffern has clearly grown sick of losing to — they had overcome adversity late to do so.
Unlike last year’s regular-season humbling, Suffern can head into sectionals brimming with confidence. It now knows it can play with the Tigers.
I spoke to Suffern coach Bernadette Gannon and senior co-captain Danielle Conklin. Their message struck a similar chord: “We can’t wait to see Mamaorneck again in sectionals.”
Photo: Allie Califano (21) of Suffern and Jessica Gardiner (12) of Mamaroneck battle for control of the ball. (Carucha L. Meuse)
This entry was posted
on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 6:32 pm by Josh Thomson.
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its a shame you are giving so much glory to a team that resorted to taking players down with their sticks, hence, the penalties well deserved.. mamaroneck is as eager to meet up with suffern again.. make no mistake..
Bring it on – I am tired of hearing the never ending screaming and berating of his own players and the officials coming from that Mamaroneck coach. That is so old school.
Shocker from Flint this afternoon, Bronxville takes out Mamaroneck 2-1. Tigers scored in the first 5 minutes, Bronxville scored with 4 left in the 1st, and with around 2 left in the second.
Thank you fan2.
You provided more of a report on what sounds like a great game between the defending Class A and Class C champs than the Journal News has.