Mitchell leads Mt. Sinai to state final

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Kasey Mitchell swung behind the right of the net on a crease roll and scored from point-blank range, slinging one across her body that buzzed by the goalie's shoulder and gave Mount Sinai a five-goal lead with 17:16 remaining in the state Class C semifinals.

Uh-oh.

The Mustangs had been in that position twice before in the playoffs, taking leads of five, only to squander them late and draw palm sweat in the waning moments.

"It didn't feel safe," Mt. Sinai coach Courtney Leonard said of what's become the dreaded five-goal advantage. "We've had that before and we've lost that before."

Pearl River's Kiera McMullan scored 11 seconds later. In crept that angst; memories of the Suffolk final and Long Island championship. Uh . . . oh, never mind. Mitchell was just getting warmed up.

The eighth-grader tied a career high with six goals to lead upstart Mt. Sinai, which, in atypical fashion, pulled away late in a 16-7 win over Pearl River Friday at SUNY-Cortland's Red Field.

The Mustangs (14-4), in their first trip to the state tournament, will face Syracuse CBA in the final at noon Saturday here.

SEE PHOTOSMt. Sinai in Class C state playoffs

"Kasey has the size and athleticism of an upperclassman," Leonard said of the attack. "She just went to town."

Mitchell scored four second-half goals and her sixth -- which came while tumbling on her side -- put Mt. Sinai up 14-7 with 4:34 remaining.

"I've been playing since I was like 3," said Mitchell, whose skills and calm belie her age. Her father, Pete, coaches the Comsewogue boys lacrosse team. "It doesn't matter how young you are, kindergarten or a senior, we have to get it done."

Shayna and Sydney Pirecca, Rachel Dillon and Caroline Fitzgerald each scored twice, and freshman Julia Michaels made eight saves for Mt. Sinai.

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"Getting this far is amazing," said Dillon, one of four seniors. "And we owe it all to a ninth-grader [Michaels] and an eighth-grader [Mitchell]."

The Mustangs are young (17 underclassmen) and unaccustomed to this grand stage, but they certainly are battle tested, having played in 10 games decided by three or fewer goals.

"It's tense," Michaels said, "but our team seems to thrive under pressure."

There was some early on, when the Pirates went up 3-2 at 12:01 of the first half. But after a timeout, "we came out flying," Dillon said. Shannon Burns tied it and Mt. Sinai went up 6-3 on Dillon's goal 4:25 before halftime.

"They shock me every day," Leonard said. "To have a team so young but able to execute, it speaks to their natural talent and composure."