Three straight shutout defeats between Sept. 29 and Oct. 3 left practically no margin for error in terms of West Islip field hockey’s playoff chances with a record of 4-7 in Suffolk Division 2 and five games remaining.
But coach Josephine Hassett never lost confidence in the Lions, and they delivered down the stretch.
A crucial 1-0 victory over Shoreham-Wading River on Oct. 5 sent West Islip on its way to a strong finish, resulting in a .500 mark and a playoff berth. The team won four of five, posting shutouts in each of those wins, and fell only to defending Long Island Class C champion Bayport-Blue Point in the final 10 seconds.
“We’ve come a long way,” Hassett said. “Every single kid has improved and they came together as a team. When we bring that ‘A’ game, we can hang with all the top teams.”
It was win or go home in the finale on Oct. 15: beat Babylon to secure a spot in the Suffolk Class B playoffs, or lose and the season ends.
“We’ve had our backs against the wall for weeks, but the girls did a great job focusing on one game at a time,” Hassett said. “I kept telling them, ‘Don’t think about needing to win, think about wanting to win and love the sport that you’re playing.’”
“The win over Shoreham was huge. Obviously, we don’t make the playoffs without that win. It would’ve forced us to beat Bayport,” she added.
The lone goal in the Shoreham win came off the stick of Mia Zegarelli in the third quarter, set up by Grae Pesci. Goaltender Emily LaBella stopped both shots the Wildcats sent her way as the Lions won for the first time in 10 days.
“Our two best wins were against East Islip and Shoreham,” Hassett said. “But the best game we played all year was against Bayport. They beat us 1-0 on a corner with nine seconds left. The girls poured their heart into that one. We had it scoreless all the way until the end.”
The playoff clincher wasn’t scoreless for long. The Lions scored early and often, and defeated Babylon, 5-0. Giada Zegarelli scored twice and Mia Zegarelli, Pesci and Samantha Monaco added a goal apiece.
“The girls knew what was at stake,” Hassett said. “I can usually tell during warmups how a game is going to go. They were fired up. It was Senior Day and they played well.”
Hassett praised the starting midfield of the Zegarellis, Cayleigh Calhoun, Riley LaFlare, and defensive anchor Leah Antippas for leading the playoff push.
West Islip will face either Eastport-South Manor or Harborfields in the first round.
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