Field hockey: One shot the difference-maker as Lakeland remains undefeated
SHRUB OAK — Monday's field hockey game between two of the best teams in Section 1 held the promise of being a defensive battle.
Sometimes promises are kept.
Undefeated Lakeland remained that way, handing visiting Horace Greeley its first loss of the season in a game that came down to a last, disputed play run after time expired.
The host Hornets, outplayed offensively for a good chunk of the first half, won 1-0 on an Emily Daniel second-quarter goal.
What it means
The game didn't end until Greeley failed to control an insert pass off a penalty corner after time had expired and following an argument over the corner being allowed.
The dispute occurred after Greeley pulled its goalie on the corner for another shooter. But while allowed in outside club play, that isn't allowed on the high school level.
A ref informed Greeley coach Sukhi Sandhu of the rule before the ball was inserted and he put his goalie back in and removed the extra field player. But Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen argued to no avail that the game should be over because what was done was an illegal substitution and Greeley should lose the ball.
The decision to allow the corner ultimately became a minor footnote to the game when Greeley failed to score off it.
Despite Greeley losing, the game seemed like a positive for both young squads.
Greeley entered it coming off last week's 1-1 tie with then-No.1-ranked Scarsdale and played Monday very much like a team that can compete with anyone.
For Lakeland, the game should serve as a good tune-up for Saturday's contest at one-loss Mamaroneck.
It also showed that the Hornets can win when not doing what they're known for doing best and creating multiple offensive penalty corners. They had none in the first half and ended up with only three, compared to the Quakers' eight.
Player of the game
Monday's game featured outstanding defensive efforts by both squads. On Greeley's side, Nina Byrne, Eve Rutman, Aidan Lane and Dani Halperin all made key stops or clears.
Lakeland received outstanding play in net from one of the squad's two seniors, Celeste Pagliaroli, who made a few very athletic, sliding stops.
And she was helped out defensively by, among others, Anna Lenna, Charlotte Sabert, Emily Yazzetti and Gabby Santini, who came up big, particularly late in the game as Greeley frantically tried to knot the score.
But right in both the defensive and offensive mix throughout the game was Lakeland junior Bella Basulto.
The midfielder seemed to be all over the field at times, intercepting or stealing the ball from the Quakers and sending the ball the other way.
And Basulto, who earned Player of the Game honors, was responsible for Daniel even having a chance to score.
With Lakeland to that point not generating much offense, Basulto carried the ball into Greeley territory, successfully dodged at least two defenders, then sent a long, hard, perfect, right-to-left pass to Daniel, who was alone on the left post.
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By the numbers
Lakeland (12-0-1) — Pagliaroli was credited with six saves and she also blocked a couple of passes.
Horace Greeley (7-1-2) — Quaker keeper Meredith Dalrymple, who, as Sandhu noted, had little chance on Daniel's goal, given the speed of Basulto's pass and the fact Daniel was by herself, had three saves.
They said it
Sandhu called the teams equal but said Pagliaroli's saves made a big difference, as did his defense's "one mistake" in leaving Daniel alone.
"I'm happy how we played but not about what happened," he said, referring to losing on Daniel's goal.
"We practice that every day," Pagliaroli said of the pass Basulto made to Daniel.
She and Basulto said members of their team have grown more comfortable playing with each other as the season has progressed and that has led to improved play.
Of Basulto's pinpoint pass, Pagliaroli said, "At the beginning of the season, we would have missed the ball."
But things, both players indicated, are clicking now.
"I don't think anyone should underestimate us," Pagliaroli said.
Next up
Lakeland is scheduled to travel to Ursuline Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. start.
Lakeland will play at Mamaroneck Saturday at 1 p.m.
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: Lakeland wins battle of unbeatens 1-0 over Greeley
