This article was posted by Leah Bush. It was written and reported by Christine Sampson.
Northport cut a four-goal deficit to one late in the second half but ran out of time in its comeback attempt and fell 15-14 to Ward Melville on Wednesday in a Class A semifinal.
Seventh-seeded Northport, which had to knock off No. 2 West Islip for a spot in the semis on Monday, seemed poised to tie the game in the final three minutes. The Tigers forced a Ward Melville turnover with 2:52 left in the game, and a minute later, Allie Pavinelli (two goals, two assists) launched a solo shot to make it 15-14.
A controversial charge call on the Tigers' offense within the final 10 seconds of the game prevented Northport (13-7) from tying the game, and Ward Melville (14-4) finished with the win.
"My team played with everything they had. Head, heart, hustle," head coach Carol Rainson-Rose said. "I'm so proud of them."
Northport struck first and kept Ward Melville guessing through most of the first half. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Dorrien Van Dyke five minutes in, and later had a 5-4 lead on a shot by Cortney Fortunato. Northport trailed 10-7 at the half.
Ward Melville executed a face gard for most of the game on Notre Dame-bound Fortunato – not something new to the nation's top recruit, who still managed to finish with three goals. Van Dyke totaled four goals and one assist, Gabi Labuskes finished with two goals and two assists, and Allie Breitfeller scored two goals for the Tigers.
Ward Melville defeated Northport in the teams' first matchup this season, a 9-8 win for the Patriots on April 10. But the game had a different feel.
"Not as intense as this one," Rainson-Rose said.
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