CLIFTON PARK -- The Glens Falls field hockey team ended its season Wednesday with a learning experience that had a happy beginning.
It was, perhaps, the most the Indians could ask for. Playing against a tremendously skilled Lakeland team, Glens Falls (14-5) held the undefeated Hornets to one goal in the first half before succumbing 5-0 in the Class B regional semifinal at Shenendehowa High School.
Though Lakeland - the 2006 state Class A champion and 2007 Class A finalist - had a 9-1 shot advantage and 6-1 penalty corner advantage at halftime, the only goal of the first half came with 13:21 left when Megan Bozek found her younger sister, Emma, who scored on a reverse hit from 9 yards out.
Part of the reason Glens Falls kept it close was the play of its defense and goalie Brittany Daniels, who combined to make three saves off a Lakeland flurry with less than 20 seconds left in the half. Daniels finished with 12 saves.
"One of the main things we wanted to do was to contain the number of corners and shots they got," Glens Falls coach Michele Venditto said. "I felt we did that pretty well until the last two goals of the game. But that set the tone for our future and gave them a taste of this level."
Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen said her team may have been a bit nervous at halftime because it hasn't had much competition this year.
"We've never been 0-0 at halftime and (ahead) 1-0 maybe only twice this year," Sarsen said. "I said at halftime, ‘With all the opportunities we had, you're going to kick yourself if we don't win this game.' But it looked like they took advantage of the opportunities in the second half."
As good teams do, Lakeland scored their goals in bunches during the second half. Megan Bozek had an unassisted tally with 18:26 left to make it 2-0. Nearly three minutes later, Megan Bradbury deflected in an outside shot by Leanne Goldblatt.
With 4:49 left, Emma Bozek poked one in from in front of the goal. And with 2:28 left, Lakeland (19-0-1) showed just how skilled they were in scoring off a corner. The Hornets made three crisp passes before the Glens Falls forwards could run from midfield and defend them, with it ending on a goal by Shannon Scavelli.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the first half," Venditto said. "But in the second half, our inexperienced youth showed."
What also showed throughout the game was how much more advanced Lakeland's stick skills were. Whether it was fielding rocket passes cleanly, taking balls away from Glens Falls or carrying the ball through traffic, Lakeland had an edge. Venditto hopes her girls took notice.
"You have to have that one signature move and a couple other reliable ones that you know, when confronted, you can get by a defender with," Venditto said.
The fact that the Indians reached the state regionals was a bonus. Starting a majority of underclassmen, Glens Falls came together earlier than expected and won its fourth sectional title in the last five years.
"Every year, as far as we get, I measure how quickly someone asks when indoor starts," Venditto said. "And the answer usually is, in one week."
Lakeland (19-0-1) 1 4 - 5
Glens Falls (14-5) 0 0 - 0
Goals-Assists
Lakeland - E.Bozek 2-0, M.Bozek 1-1, Bradbury 1-0, Goldblatt 0-1, Caffrey 0-1, Scavelli 1-0, Schultz 0-1.
Shots - Lakeland, 18-2. Penalty corners - Lakeland, 15-3. Goalies-saves - Daniels (GF) 12; DiDomizio (L) 2.
Posted in Sports, High-school-and-prep on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:45 pm | Tags: Field Hockey, Glens Falls, Lakeland
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