Cortney Fortunato has six goals to lead Northport over Sachem East
Northport midfielder Cortney Fortunato controls the ball against Sachem East in the Suffolk girls lacrosse game on April 2, 2013. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Northport's Cortney Fortunato scooped up a pass in the crease that had bounced off her stick, and with one fluid motion, dumped it unceremoniously over the goalie's head.
On her free position, she charged hard toward the Sachem East goal, held up at the last second, and floated the ball into the cage. Minutes later, she ran half the length of the field, deked two defenders, and unleashed her trademark sidearm slingshot for another score.
The All-American Notre Dame commit had six goals and two assists in the Tigers' 15-10 win over Division I rival Sachem East Tuesday. And if there were any questions about Northport's motivation after a disappointing loss to East Islip in the Suffolk Class A quarterfinal last year, consider them answered.
"I want to win a state championship," Fortunato said. "Of course, we have to take it one game at a time."
After going down 3-2, a pumped-up Northport dominated in the first half, scoring seven straight behind goals from Fortunato, Allie Pavinelli and Dorrien Van Dyke. Back-to-back goals by Katie Trombetta drew the Flaming Arrows to within 9-5 at the break, but Van Dyke, a bruising midfielder going to Stony Brook, quashed the surge with two goals of her own, at 24:13 and 24:07, both on assists by Emily Columbus.
Pavinelli and Van Dyke each had four goals and an assist.
"In their backer defense, I think the most important thing was to keep moving the ball around," Van Dyke said, adding that she, Fortunato and Pavinelli "have been through pretty much everything together at this point."
That means county finals, and state titles, and on-the-field disappointments, Van Dyke said. With this being her and Fortunato's senior year, every league win is a step toward vindication.
"Every day at practice, we're working to beat East Islip . . . a county title and states," she said. "All I wanted to do after last year was step back on this field again. I'm happy to be here."
After Tuesday afternoon's performance, it certainly shows.
