Dickinson leads Garden City in comeback

At some point in the first half Friday, Garden City's play may have summoned the question: These are the five-time defending Class B state champions? Granted, it was two-time Class A state champ Farmingdale that had them stifled.

But about midway through the second half, the Trojans -- Catherine Dickinson, in particular -- sent out the reminder: Oh yeah, these are the five-time defending state champions.

To think it came from the quiet one teammates have playfully nicknamed "Wittle Dickie."

Dickinson scored a career-high four goals in leading Garden City from a three-goal deficit (and an overall malaise) to a convincing 17-11 win in a non-league girls lacrosse game.

"We had a tough first half," Dickinson, a junior, said. "But everything came together."

Her goal with 13:53 left gave the Trojans (2-0) a 9-8 lead. Dickinson curled from the left corner, received a pass from Alexandra Bruno, and launched it inside the right post from about 15 feet out. "After that, it was like, 'Let's keep scoring,' " Dickinson said. "We couldn't sit on it."

She scored again 22 seconds later, made it 12-9 with 12:14 remaining, then 15-11 with 8:10 left, slinging one across her body while falling down.

SEE PHOTOSGarden City 17, Farmingdale 11

"Catherine was open a lot," Bruno matter-of-factly explained her six assists.

Maegan Meritz scored three of her four goals in the first half to help stake Farmingdale to a 6-3 halftime lead.

"We weren't communicating well and they were beating us on the 50-50 balls," GC defender Gabrielle Nesi said. "We had to pick it up."

Bruno's goal at 17:42 in the second half tied it at 7, Jamie Leone answered for the Dalers, and Mikaela Rix (four goals, one assist) knotted it again for Garden City before Dickinson took over.

"She's kind of the silent one," Trojans coach Diane Chapman said of the midfielder, who has long been nestled behind Garden City's cadre of superstars and All-Americans. "For her to step up like that was great. She's come out strong this year and really wants to be someone to be reckoned with on offense."

Garden City's Caroline Tarzian had four goals and two assists, Barbara Sullivan added two goals, Kelly Weis made five saves, and Erin Mullins had a stop after subbing in at goalie in the second half.

"I think everyone was a little frazzled, playing the first big game of the season," Mullins said. "After a while, we calmed down and things started clicking."

Leone had four goals for the Dalers (0-1). Kelly McPartland scored twice and had an assist, and Alex Gurecki made six saves.

The contest doesn't count for much in the standings, but it has served as a gauge-'em game the last few years. "It's mostly for bragging rights," Dalers coach Shari Campbell said. Farmingdale won in 2009, but Garden City has taken the last two.

"There's a reason they've won as much as they have," Campbell said of the Trojans. "They came back and rose to the occasion."