McCarthy's goal gives Babylon 'C' crown
2. Field Hockey — Babylon beats Pierson/Bridgehampton (Nov. 8)
Bridget McCarthy scored with 6:47 left in the first half and No. 2 Babylon held on to upset No. 1 Pierson/Bridgehampton, 1-0, in the Suffolk Class C championship. Pierson/Bridgehampton, the heavy favorite, was a state finalist in 2010 while Babylon was making its first playoff appearance since 1997. Dottie Barker made four saves in the shutout.
Credit: George A. Faella
Babylon pulled a Pierson/Bridgehampton . . . on Pierson/Bridgehampton.
The upstart Panthers upset the defending Long Island Class C champs, 1-0, Tuesday night to win the Suffolk Class C field hockey title at Ward Melville.
Bridget McCarthy scored 6:47 before the half and the Panthers' swarming, suffocating defense made it hold up as No. 2 Babylon, a team that hadn't made the playoffs since 1997, captured the title.
"The talent was there all along, they just needed to learn to fight for it'' said Catherine York, Babylon's first-year coach. "They fought all night. We have a lot of seniors and they've been through the struggles, and they knew this was their last chance."
It was Pierson/Bridgehampton that made an improbable run to last year's state final, using a formula similar to what Babylon employed: scoring just enough to support its "you'll get nothing" defense, and squeaking out nail-biters.
McCarthy took a cross from Maggie Griffo about 5 yards right of the cage and lashed it inside the near post. Dottie Barker made four saves in the shutout. Catherine Musnicki had five saves for top-seeded Pierson/Bridgehampton (9-6).
The Whalers dominated time of possession in the second half, but Babylon's defense, led by sweeper Annie Ainslie, snuffed out their chances.
Babylon, the No. 2 seed, will face Suffolk Class B champ Sayville in the small schools title game 7 p.m. Thursday at Newfield. On Saturday, the Panthers will play Friends Academy in the Long Island final.
To think, the Panthers came into this season just hoping to make the playoffs.
"That was our goal, since none of us had been there before," McCarthy, a senior, said. "Then when I heard that final whistle, knowing we're champions, it was unreal."
