Laurel Bonn scored in sudden death overtime to lift the Huntington varsity field hockey team to an upset victory over visiting Sachem North at Blue Devil Stadium, 2-1.
Bonn’s goal on a penalty stroke gives Huntington ten victories this fall against five losses. It’s the most wins in a single season in decades – perhaps ever, although more research is needed to confirm it. The Blue Devils go for their 11th win on Thursday when they take on Copiague at 4 p.m. at home on Senior Day.
“We started off a little flat and Sachem North was up by one at halftime,” Bonn said. “We had a great halftime talk that changed our game and motivated all of us to go 110 percent. We fought for every ball and Grace Agrillo scored to tie the game. We went into 7 on 7 sudden death and a stroke penalty was called. I scored on the stroke, securing our spot in playoffs!”
Sachem North took a 1-0 first half lead before Agrillo knotted the score when she found the back of the cage off an assist from Laura Curtin. That set the stage for the 7-on-7 overtime, which provides less players on the field and a more wide open opportunity to score. Instead, it was Bonn who stepped up to score the game winner on a penalty stroke.
When asked the key to the victory, Agrillo responded that is was the defense. “Grace Allen and Gemma Cartwright played great defense for us today,” she added.
Huntington goalies Carlee Schultz and Lauren Holly combined to stop the Sachem North offense. “The girls are so excited,” Blue Devil head coach Kathy Wright said. “They played great.”
The team has come together over the past three weeks and it showed against Sachem North. “The key to victory was trusting one another and always passing and moving the ball,” Curtin said. “Passing the ball leading to breakaways are helpful to victory as well.
Huntington has been chasing a post-season berth. The Blue Devils are now in the hunt for a home playoff game. As the wins have piled up, the team is making history. The research has been fast and furious and is still not complete, but the team is breaking new ground for the number of victories it has amassed.
Senior Day on Thursday has been unofficially dubbed Lauren Holly Day since the teenager is the only senior on the roster. There will be balloons and a speech as well as a post-game party at the field.
Having just one senior on the current roster highlights another fact, too. The Blue Devils expect to field a very good team once again in 2022.