Bonamico's 11 saves lead Sayville to Class B playoff

Before replacing goalie Heather Bonamico, Sayville coach Gary Jensen had a request for his team.

"When Heather comes out, make sure to clap really loud for her," Jensen told his troops.

"Screaming too?" asked a member of the peanut gallery on the Sayville sideline.

Sure, why not? Bonamico had plenty to be congratulated for.

She made 11 saves as the No. 4 Golden Flashes cruised to a 16-6 victory over visiting No. 5 Deer Park in the first round of the Suffolk Class B lacrosse playoffs yesterday.

Bonamico allowed just four goals before exiting to a rousing ovation from her team and the Sayville fans with 5:40 to play. She made saves on three free-position attempts and three more on point-blank shots.

"Most of the time on free positions, they shoot low, so I was working all week on making low saves and getting my stick down quicker," Bonamico said.

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

Melyssa Matthewson provided much of the Deer Park offense with four goals and an assist, but two of the goals came on free positions after Bonamico left the game. The Sayville goalie and her defense held Deer Park (9-7) to three goals in 44 minutes.

"We focused on getting the double [team] together," Bonamico said. "Our whole team works together."

They did on offense, too. Emily Meier led seven different Sayville scorers with four goals, while Mia Bonacore, Jordan Lite and Kimmi Marra all scored three goals.

Lite's goal on an assist from Liz Koehler with 7:57 remaining in the game gave the Golden Flashes (11-6) a 10-goal lead, and put the mercy rule into effect, where the clock continues to run even after scores.

Sayville advances to Tuesday's semifinal against top-seeded Rocky Point. The game will be a rematch of last year's Suffolk Class B final, which Sayville won by a goal to break Rocky Point's streak of four straight titles.

So when a Sayville assistant coach yelled, "Anyone want to go to Rocky Point Tuesday?" the peanut gallery turned into an rowdy mob.

Bonamico had her bag packed before this game was even over.

Said Jensen: "We're peaking right now."

Added Bonamico: "[Rocky Point is] going to be looking for revenge to get back to the finals. We're not gonna let them get there."