The West Islip Lions defeated Smithtown West 8-6 in the Suffolk Class B County Finals on Wednesday to advance to the Long Island Championship on Sunday June 4th. It’s their first county title since 2018. Although they never trailed in the game, it was a hard fought battle that went right down to the wire against a young and talented group from Smithtown West that gave West Islip everything they had.
The scoring opened for West Islip on a free-position goal by Ava Obloj to give them a 1-0 lead, but Smithtown West’s Kate Theofield responded for the Bulls, slicing through the defense and scoring right in front of the crease to even the game at 1. Both teams were backed by stellar goaltending in the first 25 minutes between Avery Lanzarotta for West Islip and Maribella Marciano for Smithtown West to keep it low scoring first half. Senior Jaimey Hill assisted Carley Sgueglia for an inside roll goal to give the Lions a 2-1 lead, and then it was the young gun duo of Ava Obloj assisting Francesca Tofano to extend their lead to 3-1. Alyssa Lorefice added a goal off of a rebound to cut the deficit to 3-2, and a crucial save by Marciano on a free position shot as time expired kept it a one goal game going into halftime.
In the second half the two teams traded the first two goals before Jaimey Hill wrapped around X and scored on a low angle shot to put West Islip in front 5-3. But the Bulls refused to go away and came back with two straight goals scored by Jolie Schiavo and Ashley Mennella which brought this one even at 5. The back and forth affair continued down the stretch with the two teams once again trading goals to tie it at 6, but Ava Obloj put West Islip in front for good on another free position shot for her second of the game. Obloj went on to add an insurance goal with 48 seconds to secure the 8-6 win. The second half also saw goalie Makenna Gagliardi deliver four big saves preventing Smithtown West from ever grabbing a lead.
Despite the loss Smithtown West put forth a very stout defensive effort led by Grace Theofield, Ava Capasso, and Marciano’s eight saves.
West Islip will take on Garden City for the right to capture the Class B Long Island Championship.
