H.S. field hockey beat: For Barrett, Pierson a title

It was November Madness at Ward Melville last Tuesday.

The scene was similar to that after an NCAA Final Four basketball game as delirious Pierson/Bridgehampton fans rushed the field - some without shirts in the frigid air - and joined in the team's celebration.

"We finally won!" Sarah Barrett screamed from the huddle at midfield.

The Whalers did, rallying from a first-half deficit to beat Southampton, 2-1, and capture their first Suffolk Class C title since 2005. Alexa Lantiere tied it with a reverse sweep at 17:02 of the second half and Barrett scored the winner with 11:10 left."To be able to share in this with these girls and some of our fans," Barrett, a senior said, "there's no feeling like this."

Since Pierson/Bridgehampton last wore the crown, the class had been owned by Port Jefferson. The Whalers' previous two postseasons ended in the county final with crushing overtime defeats to the Royals.

"These have been my freshman," said Whalers coach Shannon Judge, who took over the team in 2006.

She struggled to stifle her giddiness. "It's my first title, too. We came in together and I've been waiting for this for this team."

Now the, "We'll get 'em next year" promises can be packed away.

After Sayville lost to Shoreham-Wading River in the Class B final, a 6-2 pounding dissolving what had been a perfect season, Olivia Cabral managed to smile. No tears, no tantrum, but a Disney quote.

"Our team motto was 'Ohana,' which means 'family,' " Sayville's junior captain said. "We got it from 'Lilo & Stitch.' "

Several cars in the parking lot had the Hawaiian word scrawled in team colors on the windows.

"I can't hang my head because we had a great season and one bad game," said Cabral, who scored her 30th point in the loss.

"Maybe if the team was different, but this is the first team I've ever been on where everyone got along. We were a great team, in every sense, and I can't ask for more."

"Ohana" for them, means "Hakuna Matata."