Ochwat, Farmingdale girls advance to state final

CORTLAND, N.Y. - While Pittsford was eating its Wheaties on Friday morning, Farmingdale was still rolling out of bed. So forgive the Dalers for their sluggish start. They sure made up for it in the end.

Farmingdale scored nine unanswered goals in the last 13:32 of its 17-6 win over Pittsford in the state Class A girls lacrosse semifinals Friday at SUNY Cortland. Kyra Ochwat scored two of her game-high five goals in the run, and Melanie Raso scored two of her four.

The game was a 9:30 a.m. start, but by the time Farmingdale hit its stride, it was after 10:30 - a far more suitable hour for the Dalers, who will again play at 9:30 a.m. Saturday against Lakeland/Panas for the state title.

"It's not traditionally a Lady Dalers time," a smiling coach Shari Campbell said about the early start. "They're slow risers, so when Pittsford was down eating breakfast, I think our girls were still in bed."

Farmingdale (14-4) trailed 9:27 into the game after Tori Wehner scored unassisted for Pittsford (17-4) to make it 2-1. It was Pittsford's only lead.

The Raso-to-Ochwat connection heated up late in the first half. Their connection's goals were the bookends of a four-goal run to end the half, the last coming with just seven seconds left to make it 8-4.

"We're just really good friends and we know how each other plays," Ochwat said of her relationship with Raso. "It's easy to find each other when you know those kinds of things."

Pittsford opened the second half with two goals to close within 8-6, but it was the last goals it would score. Farmingdale scored its final nine in a span of 6:33, including two apiece from Raso, Ochwat and Kelly McPartland.

"We had the drive," Ochwat said. "They were starting to get tired and we were just getting going. We didn't want to settle for just a two-goal victory."

After the game, when most of the Dalers charged the field to jump on backup goalie Megan Planz (who replaced starter Alex Gurecki with 2:30 left), Raso and Ochwat stayed back to give their coach a hug.

"We have a really close bond with Campbell," Ochwat said. "She got us here. She prepared us every step of the way, so we're thankful to her."

The coach rewarded her girls' strong effort with an afternoon off. Their plan? A bite to eat, maybe a dip in the hotel pool, and of course, a nap.

Said Ochwat: "We're gonna relax and enjoy the win."