Field hockey: Bronxville dominated by Hoosick Falls in 4-0 state regional final loss
MAHOPAC — It was a season in which making it to the Section 1 Class C championship field hockey game seemed iffy when the playoffs began.
And emerging as Class C champion seemed unlikely as the No. 4 seed.
So, when both those things happened for Bronxville, anything seemed possible — at least until Hoosick Falls dominated the first half of their Class C state regional game Sunday at Mahopac High.
The Panthers might not have been the best team the Broncos faced this season (Bronco keeper Sofia Costanzo reserves that characterization for Section 1 Class A champ Scarsdale) but they weren't far from being that.
And from the outset of Sunday's game, Hoosick Falls was in control.
A fast team possessing big drives, the Panthers, who were awarded 13 penalty corners during the game to just three for Bronxville, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half en route to a 4-0 win.
What it means
The Panthers will play in Saturday's state semifinals. The loss ended the season for Bronxville, which won the state title in 2019.
Player of the game
Her name didn't appear on the scoresheet but Hoosick Falls' Gwyn Vincent had a big game at midfield. She gained top player honors with multiple takeaways and strong, offense-creating free hits.
Who they play:An in-depth look at what Section 1 teams face in the state regional finals
High-drama ending:Field hockey: Bronxville holds off Putnam Valley's surge to claim Section 1 Class C title
Young Hornets prevail: Lakeland continues dynasty with 14th straight section title, downing Rye
Raiders in overtime:Greco leads Scarsdale to Section 1 Class A crown with hat trick
By the numbers
Hoosick Falls (19-1) — Emma McCart an all-state player who scored both Hoosick Falls goals last year in the Panthers' state semifinal win over North Salem, had another big game Sunday. She scored the Panthers' first goal on a big blast off a penalty corner wit 8:31 left in the first quarter. And McCart smoked another shot into the net for the Panthers' fourth goal, also unassisted. In between those scores, Costanzo got unlucky when her great foot save off a Tatum Hickey laser off a penalty corner rebounded right to Ava Kasulinous, who knocked the ball in to make it a 2-0 score in the second quarter. Those two players combined again on a third-period corner score, this time with Kasulinous collecting the assist and the freshman Hickey rocketing a shot into the net. Things were quieter in the Panther defensive end, where sophomore keeper Jaedyn Roberson earned the shutout with three stops.
Bronxville (11-6-3) —Constanzo, a two-year varsity player and starter, who may have played her last field hockey game, since she doesn't intend to play in college, had two really fine stops on high-percentage Panther chances during corners right before Hickey's goal. She was credited with six saves. Senior Fiona Denning also had a nice stick stop of a high Hoosick Falls shot in the first half.
They said it
"Ten of 11 starters returned from last year's (state runner-up) team. I think experience really helped," Hoosick Falls coach Denise Campbell said.
She indicated her team kept close watch on Bronco senior forward Ellie Clifford, describing Clifford as "so fast and strong with her stick."
"We definitely didn't want to give her a lot of room," Campbell said.
While Costanzo considers Scarsdale the Broncos' top opponent of 2022, she said Hoosick Falls had the penalty corners her team faced this season.
She said Hoosick Falls was fast and its passing strong.
That speed, and some Bronxville positioning problems, she indicated, hurt Bronxville's offense because the Panthers were beating the Broncos to Bronco' free hits.
Still, Bronco coach Jacquelyn Frawley liked her team's effort.
"Nine seniors gave everything they had to the last second," she said, noting the section championship had been her team's season goal.
Up next
Hoosick Falls will play in the Class C state semifinals Saturday at 2 p.m. at Centereach High School on Long Island.
Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at both @HaggertyNancy and at @LoHudHockey.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Field hockey: Bronxville shut out by Hoosick Falls in state regional
