Mt. Sinai girls come up just short

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Mount Sinai girls lacrosse team trailed by one with less than 20 seconds to go when Rachel Dillon got the ball.

Dillon split two defenders, ducked underneath their crisscrossing sticks, and came from behind the goal on the left side. But she ran into a road block when she got to the crease and was called for a charge.

"It was a spot I was attacking all day and then I got called on the charge," Dillon said. "They knew I was attacking that spot."

Mount Sinai lost possession and never got the ball back as they fell to Syracuse Christian Brothers Academy, 9-8, in a thrilling Class C state final Saturday at SUNY-Cortland.

CBA took the lead with 57.7 seconds left on a goal by Sophie Racciatti. Mount Sinai called a timeout to go over the different scenarios depending on the outcome of the ensuing draw.

"Once we got possession of the ball we were able to get into the formation we wanted them to get in and use the clock the way we wanted to," Mount Sinai coach Courtney Leonard said. "Unfortunately we just didn't execute. We had the shots. We had a free position with no one on our right, strong side. Unfortunately we didn't capitalize on our opportunities and they did."

Eighth-grader Kasey Mitchell was awarded a free position with 26 seconds left and fired a shot high and wide to the right. The Mustangs maintained possession and eventually got the ball to Dillon, who had four goals and an assist in her final career game.

"She did amazing," fellow senior Shannon Burns said of Dillon's play. "I'm really proud of her. She seems to think it's all on her but it's a team effort. She played great."

Dillon scored all three of Mount Sinai's second-half goals and the Mustangs led 8-6 with 11:17 to go but CBA (20-3) scored three unanswered to win their first state title.

Sydney and Shayna Pirreca, Caroline Fitzgerald and Burns each scored a goal and Mitchell had an assist for Mount Sinai (14-5).

Julia Michaels came up big between the pipes for the Mustangs, making seven saves including several on free positions.

"Julia is one of the main reasons we're here. I'm so glad she's a freshmen and I have three more years with her," Leonard said. "She's a phenomenal goalie and I can only imagine what's going to happen each year."

The Mustangs played exceptionally well in close games, going 9-2 in games decided by three goals or less including the Suffolk final and Long Island Championship. The cardiac kids were unable to hold on Saturday but Leonard is eager for the future.

"I'm impressed that with this youthful team that we were able to (make it to the state finals). For them to develop that quickly says a lot about the talent with his team," Leonard said. "Even if we had won the state championship I wouldn't be viewing at it as, 'there's only one way to go.' I think you build, you learn, you develop.

"It's going to be great once I get my girls a little older."