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MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Mamaroneck High School has been the dominant force in Section 1 Class A field hockey since 2004, winning six championships, including four consecutive going into Thursday’s title game with Suffern.
Mamaroneck dominated the game Thursday, but it was Suffern that left smiling as the second-seeded Mounties shocked the top-seeded Tigers, 2-1, in double overtime at Mamaroneck High.
Sydney Rondina scored 55 seconds into the second extra session as Suffern became the first Rockland County school to win a Section 1 field hockey title. Suffern also avenged a loss to Mamaroneck in the 2008 Section 1 Class A final.
Mamaroneck finished with 22 penalty corners to Suffern’s five, and the Tigers limited the Mounties to just two shots on goal, but the second seed made the most of them.
“The girls did a great job of creating penalty corners,” Mamaroneck coach John Savage said. “When we have 22 penalty corners and we only score on one it is hard to beat a good team and Suffern is a good team.”
The Tigers were putting shots on goal, but Suffern goalie Kaila Cahoon was up to the challenge, making numerous saves.
“Their goalie had a great game and she kept them in the game,” Savage said.
Along with Cahoon, Suffern’s defensive penalty-corner foursome of Julia Calandra, Nora Patwell, Grace Brining and Taylor Fueg also excelled.
Mamaroneck opened the scoring at the 5:31 mark as Hannah Fitzgerald finished a Kayla Robinson feed on a penalty corner.
The lead was brief as Suffern was awarded a penalty stroke 90 seconds later. Sarah Adler, Suffern’s leading scorer, converted the stroke at 6:59.
Suffern coach Bernadette Gannon credited her team, especially Cahoon, for an excellent effort.
“Kaila was amazing and she couldn’t have done it without a strong defense,” Gannon said.
Savage took additional time in his post-game meeting to help ease the hurt and also savor the time with his team.
“I am very proud of this team,” Savage said. “These girls, now that my daughters are all grown up, are the joy of my life. They made me a better person and better coach by just being around them.
“The 10 seniors are a special group of young ladies. It’s been an honor to be around them and be a part of their lives. Many of the seniors I have known since elementary school.”
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