Taylor Mills' OT goal lifts Sayville
Sayville celebrates their game winning goal against East Islip. (Oct. 05, 2011) Credit: Barry Sloan
Even in the euphoria following a dramatic victory, Olivia Cabral had to admit, "We got lucky. Really lucky."
A few minutes before Taylor Mills scored in overtime, delivering Sayville a 3-2 win over East Islip Wednesday, it appeared the Redmen had won.
Alexa Martino, off a penalty corner, lashed a shot into the cage with time expiring in regulation, but as the home crowd erupted and the East Islip bench rushed the field, the goal was waved off. Referees said the ball hadn't cleared the scoring circle on the insert, violating a corner rule.
"It was a beautiful goal," East Islip coach Chris Veit said. "Unfortunately, that was the call. My hat goes off to Sayville, but we could've very easily won."
But after a matchup of Division II field hockey's last remaining undefeated teams, it was the Golden Flashes (7-0) who celebrated. Mills took a diagonal pass from Cabral (two assists) and, from 5 yards left of the goal, launched it into the far corner 1:27 into the extra session for her second score.
Mills on her winner: "It was so exciting, and a relief." On the East Islip winner that wasn't: "Terrifying."
Her sister, Madison, also scored. Olivia Russell added an assist, and Gianna Minogue made four saves for Sayville.
Martino gave East Islip (6-1) the lead with 5:16 left in the first half, but Taylor Mills tied it with 22:09 remaining. Madison Mills put Sayville ahead at 13:32, but Alyssa Groneman tied it at 2 with 3:22 left.
Nicole Moccaldi (nine saves) made a quick stick save at 2:01, setting up East Islip's last possession of regulation. She also made two stops on breakaways and had a lunging save on Shannon Litvin's penalty stroke late in the first half.
The Golden Flashes swept the 2010 regular season en route to the Class B county final. But the Redmen, if nothing else, put them on notice with yesterday's performance.
"We've played in huge games before, and we've never been more nervous than in this overtime," Litvin, a senior, said. "When they called [the goal] back, it was a chance to redeem ourselves."
And exhale.
