Maddy Molinari's three assists lead Manhasset
Manhasset's Madison Molinari follows her pass against North Shore in the Nassau field hockey game. (Oct. 1, 2012) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Maddy Molinari got a 95 on the trigonometry Regents exam.
Umm . . . of what relevance is that to Monday's field hockey game?
Angles.
It certainly helps when a front-line playmaker has a good understanding of the angles and knows how to work them, as Maddy the Mathematician demonstrated. Molinari assisted on each of Manhasset's goals as they beat North Shore, 3-1, in a Conference I matchup.
(Of course, an additional assist could go to Mrs. Wecksell, the senior's math teacher.)
After a poor first half in which they squandered seven penalty corner opportunities and trailed, the Indians came back, in large part because Molinari was, well, calculating.
Manhasset turned it over on several cross pass attempts early on, so: "Instead of hitting it and getting a large cross," Molinari said, "I could take it down the sideline and create a smaller angle to make it easier for my teammates."
Her strategy certainly isn't obtuse. The pass-first forward led Nassau with 16 assists last season.
"We got a good pep talk at halftime," Julia Glynn said. "We realized we had to play to our abilities."
On their ninth penalty corner attempt, Molinari sent a liner from atop the circle that Emily Koufakis tapped in to tie the score with 18:15 remaining.
After a turnover ignited a fast break, Molinari sent a short cross from the right wing to Glynn, who deflected it in from the post to give Manhasset a 2-1 lead with 11:40 left. Lindsey Ronbeck made two saves for the Indians (3-1).
Mary Kate Sheehan's goal -- on a rebound off the goalie -- had given North Shore a lead with 1:21 to go in the first half. Frankie Lynne Conklin had 10 saves for the Vikings (3-2).
Abby Kucharczyk, who was awarded the game ball for her strong midfield defense, also scored with 7:40 remaining to create the final margin.
"We lost to North Shore in my freshman year," Kucharczyk said, referring to the Indians being upset in the 2010 Nassau Class B semifinals. "Whenever we play them, we have that in mind and it always gives us extra motivation."
Well, that's the right angle.
