CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Tuesday, March 31, John Jay hosted Wappingers and carried a 10–6 lead into halftime. But seven straight goals by the Wildcats flipped the game, giving them a three-goal advantage late in the third quarter. With 12 minutes remaining, the Wolves faced a choice: back down or fight back.
“We dug deep and got it done,” said Coco Inglis after a thrilling 16–14 victory.
John Jay struck first. Amelia Inglis maneuvered in front to open the scoring at 10:19, and two minutes later, Fin Degl found Coco Inglis inside to double the lead.
Wappingers answered quickly, led by Ava Feliciotto. She powered through the defense to cut the deficit in half at 7:21, then set up MacKenzie Kroohs for the equalizer at 5:15.
John Jay responded behind strong draw control from Sawyer Hall. After winning possession off Dillon Hall’s faceoff, the Wolves set up in the offensive zone, where Viders drew a shooting space penalty and converted to regain the lead.
At 3:51, Hall again controlled the draw, and crisp passing led to another goal. Degl fed Hall, who found Coco Inglis cutting to the net. One step was all she needed to make it 4–2 with 1:07 remaining.
Hall continued to dominate the circle, securing another draw and keeping the offense moving. A loose ball eventually found Amelia Inglis on the right side, and she capitalized to give John Jay a 5–2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, Feliciotto remained a force. She scored off a wraparound at 10:33 to make it 5–3, then struck again just 40 seconds later to pull Wappingers within one.
The Wildcats tied the game at 5–5 when Rylin Dorsman converted a free-position opportunity with 8:48 left in the half.
John Jay answered once again. After a turnover, Coco Inglis scooped up the ball and helped reset the offense. Viders drove into traffic and found Degl, who finished in front to restore the lead.
Moments later, Erin Brennan extended the advantage, finishing a feed from Degl at 6:05.
Wappingers suffered a setback when Feliciotto was ejected following a dispute over a call, and John Jay capitalized. The Inglis sisters each scored, and after a late goal by Morgan Jackson, Brennan pushed the pace off the draw. Degl capped the half with a goal, sending the Wolves into the break ahead 10–6.
Despite the loss of Feliciotto, Wappingers surged in the third quarter. Cameron Brooke set up Sophia Coffman to start the run, then assisted Jackson minutes later. Brooke also created a turnover that led to a penalty goal by Kroohs at 5:06.
Two more free-position goals followed, cutting into John Jay’s lead. But with 43 seconds left in the quarter, Ellie Inglis made a crucial save on Kroohs’ penalty shot, a turning point that halted the momentum.
John Jay quickly transitioned the other way, as Erin Brennan sprinted upfield and connected with Degl for a goal that brought the Wolves within two entering the fourth.
“We got a little ahead of ourselves when Feliciotto got taken out,” Coco Inglis said.
Still trailing, John Jay regrouped. After another save by Ellie Inglis, Degl drew a penalty and converted to pull within one at 8:48.
Hall continued to shine on draws, controlling possession and setting the tone. “Dillon was great at adapting in the moment,” Degl said. “As long as I listened to her, she put us in the right spots.”
The Wolves then tied the game when Coco Inglis finished a feed from Brennan during a sustained offensive sequence.
Wappingers threatened to reclaim the lead after drawing a penalty at 6:44, but the opportunity went wide. Brennan came up with a key ground ball moments later and drew a foul. She deferred the shot to Degl, who scored to give John Jay a 14–13 lead.
“Her confidence is building every day,” Coco Inglis said of Brennan.
Wappingers answered again, as Jackson found Brooke for the equalizer, setting up a tense finish.
At 4:33, Hall once more controlled the draw and helped initiate the go-ahead sequence. After a foul, Coco Inglis converted a free-position shot at 3:56 to give John Jay the lead for good.
Hall secured yet another draw in the closing minutes, and Amelia Inglis sealed the victory with a goal off a feed from Viders.
“We stayed motivated, worked as a team, and came back,” she said.
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