Emma Flynn, Kate Lysaght help give Harborfields a first county title
Harborfields celebrates after winning the Suffolk Class B field hockey final against East Islip on Monday at Centereach. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Emma Flynn was a freshman the last time the Haborfields field hockey team made a county final, and she hasn’t forgotten how it ended.
"We lost that game in double overtime and it has stuck in my head ever since," Flynn said. "At the beginning of the season I gave a speech to my teammates about getting there and coming so close. I said to myself that this is my last shot to get back to that spot, and I wanted to make the most of the opportunity."
The senior earned another crack at it on Monday afternoon, and made sure this time around would be different.
Flynn opened the scoring with 5 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the first half off an offensive corner to propel No. 2 Harborfields past No. 5 East Islip, 3-1, in the Suffolk Class B final at Centereach High School. It was the first county title in program history, according to coach Lauren Desiderio.
"We were able to relax and calm our nerves a bit after scoring that first goal, and immediately wanted to get another," Flynn said.
Haborfields did just that.
Just two minutes later, Flynn fired a shot toward the goal that was deflected in by Kate Lysaght on the far post to give the Tornadoes a 2-0 lead.
East Islip made things interesting in the fourth quarter when Lauren Rigo scored with just over nine minutes left, but Lysaght was able to seal the victory when she jammed home a rebound with a minute to play. Lina Tornese made four saves in the win and Molly Magnifico had five saves for East Islip (13-4).
The Tornadoes (16-1-1) will face the winner of Thursday’s Nassau Class B final between Garden City and Manhasset on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Centereach in the Long Island B final.
"I am a defender. I’m not used to scoring goals," Lysaght said laughing. "It is an amazing feeling to know that I was able to help my team win, and help our school earn the first county championship in field hockey."
"Kate has been incredible all season. She is one of our last defenders before goal and comes up with incredible block tackles and keeps everyone calm back there," Desiderio said. "You’d never know she’s just a sophomore, she plays more like a senior."
