Field hockey: Owens' overtime goal sends John Jay to quarterfinals

WICCOPEE - Of course, there are technical reasons to explain why this team has been so much more successful in overtime than in regulation, including the open-field format favoring their athleticism.

But it's also an indication of something, perhaps, even more encouraging: That this group doesn’t seem to be fazed by pressure, despite the collective inexperience of its roster.

"I started sprinting up the field before she even shot it," Maggie Kennedy said of reaction Saturday during Emma Owens' fast break in overtime. "I knew she was going to score."

Right on time. Owens took an outlet pass from Caitlin Cummings and outraced a defender up the right flank before sending a shot into the far corner 1:38 into the extra period.

That goal lifted John Jay-East Fishkill to a 1-0 win over No. 9 White Plains in the first round of the Section 1 Class A field hockey playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals a squad that began this season as an overlooked underdog.

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The eighth-seeded Patriots (6-8-1) visit defending state champion Mamaroneck on Tuesday.

"It feels great," Owens said of this win continuing their improbable run. "I'm really proud of what we've done."

Teammates, likewise, are proud of Owens, especially considering she only celebrated her 13th birthday this week. She and Cummings, a standout midfielder, are a talented eighth-grade tandem that offers the program a glimpse into its future.

"The best part is realizing how much better all these girls are going to get," senior Ally Morgan said. "I know I'm going to be excited following them from college next year and seeing how much progress they make."

They’ve already made significant progress in the last month as the Patriots gradually improved after a 1-4-1 start.

Them struggling early, Kennedy said, was confirmation for some observers who didn't expect much of the group after it graduated 13 seniors. After all, a team reliant on nine underclassmen, including three middle schoolers, doesn't typically fair well against a challenging large-school schedule in Section 1.

"We've come a long way," coach Bernadette Angioletti said. "They've gotten more confident, they're making fewer mistakes, and they believe in themselves, so they're more aggressive."

Some of that has been on display down the stretch, particularly in overtime, where the Patriots have earned four of their wins. The 7-on-7 format, with eight fewer players on the field, lends itself to a team whose strength is speed and transition. "We're good at spreading the field and using the open space," Owens said of their offense in extra periods.

In those situations, Angioletti said, the midfielders and back line pressure the ball heavily, looking to force turnovers and get Owens an opportunity with room to operate.

Their defense shined throughout on Saturday, halting several fast breaks, and denying White Plains quality shots on goal. Kennedy twice thwarted penalty corner attempts in the second quarter, deflecting shots in front of the goal.

Makenna Lavery intercepted a pass toward the wing that would've led to an open shot 54 seconds before halftime. Sophomores Holly Popolizio and Catherine Bourhill also did well, forcing turnovers and helping contain White Plains' speedster Brooke Thomas.

"It's always better to be aggressive and try to make a play," Kennedy said.

Morgan had five stops, and the goalkeeper last week surpassed 149 saves to break her older sister Catherine's single-season program record. But her most critical play, maybe of the season thus far, was coming up from the cage to halt a breakaway at the 15 with 2:14 left in the third quarter.

The Patriots controlled possession and attacked the circle throughout the fourth, including two near misses that went just wide and left the home crowd gasping. But, that just set the stage for overtime.

"This meant a lot to us," Angioletti said. "From where we started, to be where we are now, it's amazing and I'm so proud of them. We're building toward something, and the future is bright. For us, a playoff win now is almost like a championship."

Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4