Morelli's key saves spark Manhasset

The free position shot gets a bad rap in girls lacrosse. Critics tend to emphasize the free aspect of it.

Don't tell that to Manhasset's Grace Morelli. The junior goalie stopped free positions from Kelly McPartland, one of Long Island's best scorers, twice in a two-minute span in the second half to help visiting Manhasset to a 13-10 Nassau Conference I victory over Farmingdale last night.

Morelli made it sound so easy: "I just look at the ball,'' she said. "When I was younger I had to learn to do that.''

Making Morelli's heroics even more impressive was that she had been on the field only for two minutes when she faced that first free position. Manhasset (7-1 Conference I) typically rotates Morelli with senior Jen Levy, who had four saves in the first half that was tied at 8 at the break.

Morelli made six saves and allowed only two goals, one on a putback and, yes, one on a free position.

Despite the unseasonably cold weather, Morelli had no problem getting her mind into the game. It helps that she has plenty of scorers on her team to get her set after halftime.

"I try to get myself mentally ready,'' Morelli said. "My teammates get me warmed up.''

SEE PHOTOSManhasset 13, Farmingdale 10

With two capable goalies Manhasset has a luxury that few other teams have. Most teams would like even one goalie of Morelli or Levy's ability.

"It has a huge impact on our team,'' said junior midfielder Jenny Vlahos. "Goalie is the most important position on the field.''

While Morelli was dazzling in the goal, Vlahos and Cathryn Avallone went to work to break the tie.

Avallone opened the scoring in the second half off an assist from Halle Majorana. Then Vlahos scored two straight to up the lead to 11-8. Farmingdale's Maegan Meritz scored with 13:13 remaining to put the Dalers (5-3 Conference I) within two, but Majorana connected with Avallone again to make it 12-9.

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

Vlahos led Manhasset with five goals and Majorana had two goals and three assists. For Farmingdale, Melanie Raso had five goals and two assists and Kim Kolodny added three goals.

Manhasset looked as if it would run away with it after a goal from Sarah Barcia made it 6-1 with 14:20 left in the first half, but Farmingdale scored seven of the next nine goals to tie it before halftime. Raso had five points during a 6-0 Farmingdale run that briefly gave the Dalers a 7-6 lead. After Manhasset's Kerri Fleishhacker traded goals with Kolodny, Vlahos scored to tie it at eight with 13 seconds remaining in the first half.

"The first half we got a little overconfident,'' Vlahos said. "We kept our composure.''