Ward Melville Field Hockey Loses in OT

CICERO – For the second straight year, 's field hockey season ended in heartbreak.

After battling Williamsville North of Section 6 to a scoreless tie in regulation, the Patriots lost to the Spartans, 1-0, in overtime Friday in the Class A state semifinal at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Emily Woods powered a shot past the Ward Melville defense on a penalty corner play at 7:32 in sudden death to send undefeated North to Saturday's championship game. It's the second consecutive year Ward Melville has come up short in the state semifinal. In 2009, the Patriots lost to Mamaroneck, 2-1, in the semis.

Dejected Ward Melville players walked off the field crying at the outcome. The Patriots (18-2) were attempting to win their second Class A state title in three years. But the Spartans had other ideas.

After an evenly played game in regulation, North (20-0) capitalized on its first corner in OT. Senior Nikki Atkins, North's leading scorer with 26 goals, hit the ball to Woods, who nailed a hard shot on goal for the game-winner. Atkins got credit for the assist.

It was the only shot Ward Melville failed to stop as the defensive unit was outstanding for 62 minutes. Emma Holland, Jennifer Smith, Kaila Malone and goalie Lauren Tarantino repeatedly denied North under intense pressure in the second half. Tarantino, one of 11 seniors on the squad, finished with six saves.

The game was a match-up of two standout programs who were no strangers to the state final four. In fact, all four of this year's semifinalists – Ward Melville, Williamsville North, Mamaroneck and defending state champ Greene – made the final four last year. Williamsville North lost to Greene in the 2009 semifinal.

Ward Melville was all business getting ready for its semifinal against Williamsville North. The Patriots had their game faces on before their warm-ups as no player cracked a smile when they received their official state ID and commemorative championship cup.

The Patriots started out strong with three penalty corner opportunities in the first six minutes but all were rebuffed. The Spartans responded with three consecutive corners of their own only to come up empty.

The rest of the first half was played between the 20-yard lines as neither team could establish its attack on a chilly night at Bragman Stadium. As temperatures hovered around freezing, a few players lost their footing on the slippery Astroturf surface.

Williamsville North finished with an edge in penalty corners (7-3) and shots (7-2) against the Patriots in regulation.