The Manhasset Indians are heading to their third straight Class C Long Island Championship Game courtesy of Holly Newman’s four goal performance which included the game winner in overtime for a 13-12 comeback victory over top seeded North Shore. The heroics go beyond just Newman, as Duke bound midfielder Caitlin Barrett scored the game tying free position goal which was her fifth of the game with eight seconds remaining to set the stage for the overtime victory. The win for Manhasset sets up what will be the trilogy between them and the Bayport Blue-Point Phantoms for the Long Island Championship on Sunday at Adelphi.
Manhasset quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the early stages of the game on goals by Shea Panzik and Taylor Gordon, but North Shore’s Kylee Colbert rattled off three straight goals to put the Vikings in front for the first time in the game at 3-2. Ava Bartoli would cap off what was four unanswered goals for a two goal lead. Newman and Barrett each answered back to even the game at four, but the dominance of Colbert continued to be on display for the Vikings. Her six goals through the first 25 minutes of play gave North Shore a 9-6 lead at halftime.
In the second half Manhasset opened up the scoring with two goals between Gordon on a catch and shoot score from Mia LoPinto, and a free position goal from Barrett. North Shore appeared to have an answer every time to keep Manhasset at bay, and would build a three goal lead on two different occasions. With a 12-9 lead North Shore was less than six minutes remaining from closing out the game, but Panzik cut the Manhasset deficit to two on a free-position shot, followed by an assist from Panzik to Newman right in front of the crease bringing them within one at 12-11. With the game hanging in the balance Manhasset needed one more score to keep their season alive and that’s where Barrett delivered in the clutch on a low angle free position goal with eight seconds left.
In the overtime frame North Shore would win the opening draw but junior defender Maddy Chun forced a crucial turnover on North Shore and secured the ground ball where Manhasset would call timeout. Out of the timeout Manhasset worked the ball around and it was Newman coming from up top with a split dodge and a lefty finish to send the Indians back to the Long Island Championship with a 13-12 win!
Newman tallied four goals on the evening while Barrett finished with a team high five goals and one assist for six points. Also contributing in this high scoring contest was Panzik with two goals and one assist, Gordon with two goals, and three assists from LoPinto.
The Vikings were led by Colbert who had a game high seven goals along with one assist.
The Class C Long Island Championship game takes place Sunday, June 4th at Adelphi University at 6pm against the Bayport Blue-Point Phantoms for the right to be crowned a Long Island Champion.
