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BEDFORD, N.Y. -- Lakeland/Panas was primed to make one final run in the Section 1 Class A Girls Lacrosse Championship game. After all, the Rebels had done it twice before, but North Rockland would not allow it.
The second-seeded Red Raiders held the ball for the final six minutes and 13 seconds to stun the top seed, 10-9, at Fox Lane High School Thursday. North Rockland improved to 18-0-1 and won the first girls lacrosse title in program history and denied Lakeland/Panas an unprecedented sixth consecutive title. The Red Raiders advance to a state regional semifinal and will play the Section 9 champion at a site, date a time to be determined.
It definitely was a game of runs, Lakeland/Panas coach Sharon Sarsen said.
Lakeland/Panas trailed 4-0 before reeling off five consecutive goals to take a 5-4 lead into halftime. Emma Bozek and Molly Fitzpatrick opened the second half with goals, extending the Rebels lead to 7-4, but the Red Raiders came storming back. North Rockland scored five consecutive goals in a span of 4:18 to take a 9-7 lead. Bozek and Kelly Dowd traded goals. North Rockland led 10-8 after Dowds goal, with 10:47 remaining in the game. After that, North Rockland goalie Katie Lonergan asserted herself. She made two excellent saves on Molly Fitzpatrick and Bozek in a three-minute span to preserve the lead.
We didnt finish on a couple of opportunities we had had and they did, Sarsen said. Their goalie made some big saves. I thought she was the difference.
Even after Fitzpatrick scored, with 6:17 remaining in the game, North Rockland won the draw and held the ball the remainder of the game. It was one of five possessions in which the Red Raiders ran a settled situation lasting more than three and a half minutes.
Fitzpatrick and Bozek each had a hat trick for the Rebels and Fitzpatrick also added three assists. Amanda Vasta added two goals and Alexa Bonnes had a goal and an assist.
Sarsen cited her seniors for their contributions to the program.
This senior class has been awesome and so much fun to coach, said Sarsen of Chyna Hill, Allie OMara, Bozek and Bonnes. They have been committed to Lakeland/Panas lacrosse. They are great competitors and great leaders.
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