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Pierson senior Ashley Stuckart had a goal and two assists in a 4-0 win over West Babylon on Friday. DREW BUDD
Pierson senior Ashley Stuckart had a goal and two assists in a 4-0 win over West Babylon on Friday. DREW BUDD
Pierson sophomore Zoe Esposito and West Babylon player go after the ball. DREW BUDD
The Pierson/Bridgehampton field hockey team is gaining steam at just the right time.
After losing their first seven games of the season, mainly against larger Class B schools, the Whalers have won four of their last five, including their past three straight.
Shelby Casey said the team’s turnaround is certainly a welcomed sight after the tough start to the season.
“I would have to say that the losses were tough at first, but I think it’s truly what brought our team closer,” she said. “It brought our motivation up, we all started encouraging each other and overall brought our team chemistry closer and stronger, which led to our wins.”
The latest was a 4-0 win over West Babylon at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor on Friday, a game that was originally expected to begin at 5:15 p.m., but due to transportation issues trickled into the evening.
With daylight quickly waning, Pierson/Bridgehampton didn’t waste any time, jumping on the scoreboard just a minute or two in when Lochlyn Craig scored off an assist from Ashley Stuckart. Soon after, Kate Vinski, also from Stuckart, scored, followed by Zoe Esposito.
Stuckart found the cage herself in the second quarter, off an assist from Abby Perello, at which point the officials came together quickly and decided to suspend the game due to not enough daylight. Over the weekend, Whalers head coach Laura Desario found out that Section XI, the governing body of Suffolk County high school athletics, decided to count the game as is.
The Whalers had arguably their two biggest wins back-to-back prior to playing West Babylon. After picking up their first victory of the season over a fellow Class C team, 5-0, at home over Greenport/Southold/Mattituck on October 7, Pierson/Bridgehampton upset host Miller Place, 1-0, on Thursday, October 9, a game in which it allowed 23 penalty corner kicks and played in its defensive end for most of the game, but still managed to win.
Craig, off an assist from Esposito, scored in the first quarter to put the Whalers up, 1-0. But from that point on it was all Miller Place, at least from an offensive standpoint. Defensively, Pierson/Bridgehampton put up a masterful game, despite giving up as many corners as it did. Caroline Gregor made 13 saves in the shutout.
“Standing tall is definitely a great way to put it,” Lola Eldridge said of the win. “Miller Place is a very, very strong team as I’ve heard most of them play travel, and getting that win over them was definitely such a huge confidence booster for our team. I was so proud of all of us as we continued to keep our energy up the entire time. We all came out super strong from the beginning and we only got stronger throughout the rest of the game. I really didn’t know what to expect coming into this game as sometimes we can surprise ourselves with what we’re capable of.”
“After each corner ended, everyone on our team kept yelling, keeping us hyped up as the game was coming to a close because I know none of us wanted to go into overtime,” she continued. “I remember saying to everyone, “Just don’t let them score, don’t let them score.’ Coming out of that game was the happiest I’ve seen our team. I’m just really hoping we all continue to stay this motivated. And we’ve talked about this as a team already, as the end goal is getting that 11th Class C County Championship.”
Casey scored twice and Esposito had three assists to lead Pierson/Bridgehampton over Greenport, a game in which Porters’ goalie Alison Erwin made 17 saves. Craig, Clio Halweil and Evie Berkowski each scored as well.
The only loss for the Whalers in their five-game stretch was a 4-3 decision at Rocky Point on October 3. The Eagles scored two goals in the fourth quarter to tie the game and then take the lead. Casey, Stuckart and Leanora Gangemi each scored for Pierson and Gregor made 11 saves.
Pierson/Bridgehampton played at West Islip on Wednesday, is scheduled to host Sayville this Friday at Mashashimuet Park at 4:30 p.m. and then will finish the regular season at Southampton this Monday, October 20, at 6 p.m. before making its playoff push.
“I’m pretty happy we’re going in the right direction toward playoffs,” Desario said.
