Field hockey: Scarsdale falls to nationally-ranked Northport in state semifinals
It wouldn't have been a surprise if the Scarsdale field hockey team had fallen by two or three goals in their Class A state semifinal game Saturday at Centereach High School on Long Island.
After all, Scarsdale had made the semis via a nail-biting 1-0 regional final win over Section 2's Bethlehem High only to have to face Northport, a team ranked No. 17 in the country and No. 1 in the Northeast, and a squad that had out-scored its opponents by a collective 96-4.
But for four quarters Saturday, no one might have suspected the Raiders were underdogs.
The two squads finished regulation scoreless.
But then, perhaps, the odds or the wide-open play 7-on-7 can provide caught up with Scarsdale.
In the first of two potential 7-on-7 sudden-victory overtimes, Northport star Olivia McKenna, who entered the game with 53 points on the season with 40 of them on goals, scored her 41st goal to give her team a 1-0 win.
What it means
Scarsdale's season concluded on that play, while the goal lifted Northport to the state final.
Player of the game
McKenna, who along with her twin sister Natalie, Northport's goalie, will graduate early and go on to play for Division I UConn, took top game honors, although it could almost as easily have also gone to all those who contributed to Scarsdale's defensive effort.
By the numbers
Northport ( 22-0 ) — Natalie McKenna, who could be on her way to receiving All-American honors for a second straight season, had five saves to earn the shutout. Northport had a 9-6 penalty-corner advantage.
Scarsdale (14-5-1) — Scarsdale keeper Gabriella Lopez, who was solid throughout the season, had six saves.
Northport-Scarsdale semifinal preview:What's next for Scarsdale at this weekend's state final four
Raiders win regional:An early goal, a negated goal, hit crossbar and diving save and Scarsdale wins
Mamaroneck's OT loss:Field hockey: Greco leads Scarsdale to Section 1 Class A crown with hat trick
They said it
"The absolute best game of field hockey we’ve played," Scarsdale coach Lauren Barton remarked of her team's play. "The girls played an amazing game with all of their heart."
Up next
Northport will return to Centereach to play Section 3's Cicero-North Syracuse at 10 a.m. Sunday for the state Class A championship.
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: Scarsdale falls to Northport in state semifinals
