Gilroy, Fortunato spark Northport

Shannon Gilroy scooped up a loose ball near midfield and drove to the net, bobbing and weaving from left to right through defenders and flicked a shot past Chelsey Sidaras and inside the right post. It was Gilroy's fourth goal of the game and her second in a span of 22 seconds, part of a seven-goal Northport run that overpowered host Floyd.

"After the Garden City game we weren't feeling too hot," said Gilroy, referring to Northport's 10-goal loss Saturday. "We came out here determined to win, play better from Garden City and redeem ourselves."

Gilroy had five goals and two assists, Cortney Fortunato had four goals and two assists and Paige Bonomi had three goals and an assist to lead Northport over Floyd, 16-10, in Suffolk Division I girls lacrosse Wednesday.

The teams battled to a 5-5 tie with 2:01 left in the first half, but momentum shifted on a defensive play by Northport's Megan Marinelli. Marinelli knocked the ball away from a Floyd player and it led to a Fortunato goal with 30 seconds left in the half. Emily Columbus' goal 21 seconds later put the Tigers up 7-5 and left the Colonials stunned.

"At 5-5,'' Gilroy said, "we've just got to keep our composure and look for the next person who's open or look for that next shot and get the best of our opportunities."

Northport poured it on after halftime, scoring four goals in the first 2:32, and Bonomi capped the 7-0 Tigers run with 15:49 remaining. Northport coach Carol Rose said the difference in the second half was her team's intensity and ball control.

"We're trying to at least contest for the ground balls, contest for the draws," Rose said. "We're still not winning draws, and that hurts us so much, but when we do win the draw, we're dangerous."

SEE PHOTOSNorthport 16, William Floyd 10

Courtney Murphy had five goals and Jackie Andersen added three goals and two assists for Floyd (11-2).

Northport (12-0) sits atop the Division I standings and is a virtual lock to finish as the top seed in the Class A county playoffs. Rose said her team's aspirations are even higher.

"Right now we're trying to be undefeated league champs," Rose said. "That would be our goal: to do that within our league."