Manhasset dominates in second half to advance to state Class C final
Manhasset's Caitlin Barrett carries the ball against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake during a Class C semifinal at the NYSPHSAA Girls Lacrosse Championships in Cortland, N.Y., Friday, June 10, 2022. Credit: Adrian Kraus
CORTLAND — The players and coaches on the Manhasset sideline knew the first 25 minutes were not indicative of the type of girls lacrosse team they are.
The second half, however, that’s the team Manhasset wants to be.
Manhasset defeated Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 20-10, utlizing an 11-1 second half in the state Class C girls lacrosse semifinals Friday afternoon at SUNY Cortland.
“Our coach told us that we have so much potential and we could play so much better than we were playing in the first half," midfielder Caitlin Barrett said. "We just really had that fire in us in the second half to keep scoring and scoring and going and going.”
Manhasset (14-2) advances to play Honeoye Falls-Lima (12-8) in the state Class C final at 2 p.m. on Saturday at SUNY Cortland.
Manhasset allowed four goals over the final 4:45 of the first half and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (18-4) tied the score at 9 entering halftime.
“The momentum was going our way but to see it shift the other way was a little disappointing,” said Alexis Morton, who had six goals and two assists. “But it kind of gave us a little fire to come out stronger in the second half and get a lot of goals.”
A lot of goals in very little time. Manhasset scored four goals over a span of 52 seconds, taking a 13-9 lead with 22:13 left in the second half.
Barrett had three goals and an assist, but especially made her presence known with 12 draw controls.
“She was tremendous,” coach Meghan Clarke said. “She was the MVP of the game for me, no doubt in my mind.”
“I just know I have to keep running for that ground ball,” Barrett said. “Whether it’s up in the air, on the floor, I just have to keep going and do my best to get it in my stick.”
Shea Panzik added three goals and three assists and Mia LoPinto, Annalisa Massaro and Nicole Giannakopoulos each scored two goals. Manhasset had 10 different players record a point and Ashley Newman added five draw controls.
Manhasset will attempt to win its first state title since 2018 and fourth in program history.
“It means so much to all of us,” Morton said. “From the beginning of the season, this is where we wanted to be and now we’re here. It’s honestly surreal and we just have to keep going. We’re almost done.”
