Huskies knock off No. 8 John Jay, 3-1; fall to defending state champ Lakeland
By Skip Pearlman
The ninth-seeded Harrison High field hockey team had a solid game in a 3-1 win over No. 8 John Jay in last Tuesday’s opening-round playoff game. But the Huskies ran into the state’s most dominant team – five-time defending state champ and top seed Lakeland, and ended the season with a 7-0 loss last Friday in Shrub Oak.
In Last Tuesday’s first round win over John Jay, the Indians struck first – after a scoreless first half – with Jacque Manno putting her team up 1-0 six minutes into the second half.
But Harrison came back with three unanswered goals to seal the win. Elisa Arcara scored off a pass from Grace Manning two minutes later, Taylor Fabiani scored the game-winner off an assist from Arcara with 12 left, and Arcara gave Harrison an insurance goal on a penalty stroke with about six minutes to play.
Christina Decarlo had 10 saves in net for Harrison, while Hayley Martinsen stopped three shots on goal for the Indians.
“John Jay is a good team, and the girls were motivated,” Huskies coach Sara Witmer said. “In the first half we were trying to figure out how to contain. After they scored that goal, we got more motivated, made adjustments, and we capitalized on it.
“Decarlo had a great game,” Witmer added. “She made some big, important saves. And Arcara was solid again. She was involved in every goal. And our defense did a great job marking and being in position… it was a great team effort.”
In Friday’s quarterfinal round at Lakeland (17-0), the Hornets cruised to a 5-0 lead at halftime, and kept Harrison (5-10-2) out of the goal the whole way.
Dana Bozek had two goals and an assist for the Hornets, Emily Powers had two goals, and Molly Fitzpatrick had a goal.
Decarlo was pounded in the net, and came up with an impressive 28 saves. Lakeland’s Alex Powers and Maddie Deans combined to make three saves.
“We knew coming in this would be a tough game,” Witmer said. “Obviously they’re a very talented team, and have a lot of depth. They are five-year state champs for a reason, and I think they have a good chance to repeat. It was a good experience for the girls – to play at that level. We weren’t intimidated, we just competed the whole game, and did what we knew how to do.
“Decarlo was phenomenal in goal,” Witmer added. “And she had many high-quality shots coming her way. She really used her skills well. Arcara did a nice job, and our forwards all did a good job.”
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