Jantzen's hat trick leads SWR to Suffolk crown
Shoreham-Wading River's Debi-Michelle Jantzen celebrates a goal as Sayville's Shannon Litvin reacts during the Suffolk Class B final at Ward Melville. (Nov. 9, 2010) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Shoreham-Wading River looked as vulnerable as it has in recent memory. Rivals had improved, the divide in its class had narrowed, and the Wildcats would have to trudge forward without Kait Brosco. Heck, they even lost out on their division title.
Ripe for the picking? Debi-Michelle Jantzen begged to differ. The midfielder pulled a hat trick in leading No. 3 Shoreham-Wading River over undefeated Sayville, 6-2, last night in the Class B final at Ward Melville. It was the Wildcats' fourth consecutive Suffolk title.
"But it feels like the first time," said Jantzen, who leads Long Island with 41 points. "We worked so hard to get here and then to face Sayville, who hadn't lost. This is so rewarding."
After a first half in which the Wildcats (18-2) squandered eight penalty corners, Jantzen gave them the lead with two minutes left in the half on a penalty stroke. Gianna Minogue (10 saves) dove to her right for a stop but, while down, a rebound shot rolled under her pads and was snuffed, resulting in the foul. On the stroke, Jantzen faked right then fired the ball into the left corner.
The junior scored again 2:35 into the second half on a penalty corner. She took a feed from Kristin Torres about 10 yards in front of the goal and sent a hard grounder inside the left post.
"She's exceptional on those corners," Jantzen said of Torres, who also assisted on her third goal. "Her passes were perfect and I owe a lot to her."
Olivia Cabral got the Golden Flashes (16-1) on the board at 21:35, slashing through three defenders and launching the ball into the far post from about 12 feet to the right of the net.
And just when it seemed top-seeded Sayville had seized some momentum, Jantzen took it back 54 seconds later. Off another dish from Torres, she fired a liner that made it 3-1.
"We were more poised in the second half," SWR coach Lea Calligeros said.
Demi Lopez scored at 7:46 to provide a 4-1 cushion, then Maegan Hearney added another at 6:26. Taylor Mills scored for Sayville with 5:18 left, but Hearney struck again at 2:54 to ice it.
"We had to respond," Hearney said. "Every time they scored, we'd come right back."
Never far from the Wildcats' thoughts is Garden City, the team that's beaten them in three straight Long Island title games. They'll meet again Sunday.
"We consider them a rival," Torres said. "We'll celebrate tonight and then we'll get focused."
Pierson/Bridgehampton 2, Southampton 1: Pierson/Bridgehampton captured its first Suffolk Class C title since 2005 by beating No. 2 Southampton. The top-seeded Whalers (10-5) rallied from a first-half deficit and senior Sarah Barrett scored the winner with 11:10 left.
"To be able to share in this with these girls and some of our fans," Barrett said, "there's no feeling like this."
