Pierson-Bridgehampton falls in state field hockey
Pierson/Bridgehampton's Charlotte Johnson (89/center) makes the save during the Class C field hockey state semifinals in Endwell, NY. Credit: Nick Serrata / AP
The Pierson-Bridgehampton field hockey team had a new look on defensive penalty corners, sending out a speedy fly to disrupt Syracuse Cazenovia's shots before they could be taken.
But soon enough, the offense adjusted.
Zoe Shephard pulled to the right and around the incoming defense before resetting and winding up for a big shot that found the back of the cage to give Cazenovia a lead with a little more than seven minutes left in the second half.
It would be the game-winner, as Cazenovia (19-2) beat Pierson, 2-1, to win the Class C state semifinals Saturday at Maine-Endwell High School.
The Whalers (10-8) previously had tied the game on Claudia Patterson's first goal of the season six minutes into the second half. She charged at Ana Sherwood's rebound and ran it into the cage behind the goalie.
"I think Ana did a great job, I just happened to be there," Patterson said. She added that the game result wasn't ideal, but "we really showed who we are as a team and worked hard. It's not something to be ashamed of, we're happy that we even got this far."
Pierson hardly looked out of place through the first 15 minutes of play.
Allura Leggard, the fly on corners, led an aggressive defense that was tested early on. The Whalers spent a lot of time at midfield, but made a few short passes that led to fast breaks up the field.
Sherwood impressed by dribbling the ball in the air 70 yards ahead while dodging past four defenders, but was driven to the outside near the 15-yard line and couldn't get a shot off.
The game was evenly matched until Mikaylee Whalen broke through for Cazenovia with a low goal on a penalty stroke to give her team a 1-0 lead with 6:13 until halftime.
Cazenovia had the advantage on offense for 10 minutes after Patterson tied the game in the second. An attacker seemed to beat Pierson's goalie with 13 minutes left, but defender Kerrie Vila cut back to make a save on the empty net. Cazenovia took its final lead six minutes later.
"I'm very proud of my team," Sherwood said. "I think we did really well in the defensive circle, clearing things and executing very quickly."
"[Cazenovia] was able to finish, that's something we weren't able to do. That's what wins games."
