Sklar, Friedman key to Friends' C crown
Friends Academy's Morgan Landown #12 celebrates her goal with teammate Erica Sklar #9 as Carle Place's Katie Megiel #8 reacts in the Nassau Class C field hockey final. (Nov. 6, 2011) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Despite what a concept of time may lead you to believe, Oct. 4 was a long time ago. It says so here on this Friends Academy field hockey calendar.
The Quakers starting the season 0-5 and struggling to muster offense? That's a "once upon a time . . . " story.
"It seems so long ago, I can't even believe it was this year," senior Erica Sklar said of the date her team earned its first win of the season.
It seemed a lifetime ago from Sunday night, when top-seeded Friends Academy hoisted the Nassau Class C championship plaque for the seventh straight season after defeating Carle Place, 4-0, at Adelphi.
The key goals in the Quakers' biggest game to this point came from Chloe Friedman, who scored at 25:52 of the first half, and Sklar, who made it 2-0 with 10:07 to play.
Coincidentally, it was those two who scored three goals each to spark the turnaround in that Oct. 4 win over Great Neck South.
“They’re our wings,” Quakers coach Christine Botti said, “and that’s what we’ve come to expect from them.”
The emergence of those forwards – along with midfielder Savannah Febesh’s increased scoring – has helped offset the loss of Bridie Gahan. The junior was Friends’ leading scorer the previous two years, but she sat out this season recovering from hip surgery.
“It’s never about one player,” said Gahan, who stood with crutches on the sideline. “This team has come together and it’s been fun to watch.”
And so much for that slow start. Friends Academy (9-6) has won nine of its last 10.
"It's the same team," Sklar said, "but the difference in skill we've shown is such a change."
Stifling defense and Charlotte Gelfand's six saves preserved the shutout. There were some close calls as the Frogs twice threatened on breakaways in the second half, but the Quakers held strong. Gelfand made a last-second kick save of a shot headed for the left corner with 13:08 remaining.
Morgan Landow and Sklar provided the cushion, adding goals in the final eight minutes. Leanne Iannucci made 12 saves for No. 2 Carle Place (8-8).
"They learned to play together," Botti said of the turnaround, "and they've accomplished part of what we set out to do."
Step 2 comes at 4 p.m. Saturday at Stony Brook, when Friends faces the Suffolk Class C winner for the Long Island title.
