Somers field hockey opens playoffs with win over Nanuet

SOMERS, N.Y. - After finishing with a losing record last year, Somers not only got back on track and made the sectionals, but also hosted a home playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 24. Against Nanuet, an early 1-0 deficit could have meant the end of a good run. But the Tuskers were far from ready to call it quits.

The girls scored four straight goals and moved on to the quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory.

At the outset, a scrum in front of the cage resulted in Nanuet’s only goal. Just one minute in, Somers didn’t panic.

The girls got into the Nanuet zone, kept the Golden Knights contained and earned their first penalty corners at the 11-minute mark. Sabrina Guaragna took a pair of whacks, but the visitors stayed safe for the moment.

Somers wasn’t going anywhere, though. The Tuskers continued to hem in their opponents, and the bill came due.

Starting with a steal, Caitlyn Mayfield took the ball toward the cage and earned a penalty corner that officially got the ball rolling for the Tuskers. Marissa Petrini received the inbound, had her first shot blocked and recovered with a big swing. On target, the freshman hit the left side of the cage, and the score was tied.

With 6:32 remaining, Nanuet followed by getting the ball into the Somers zone. But brief stays, two penalty corners and a little activity in front of the goal were the best Nanuet could muster. Back the other way, Emma Donaldson put a shot wide of the goal, and two penalty corners ended the first quarter.

On to the second, it was more of the same. A Somers steal at midfield began another drive, and Guaragna took control on the right. Her push inside reached Donaldson, and the senior did the rest.

Her backhand swipe connected at 13:03, and a 2-1 lead hovered over the same Somers control game for the rest of the period. Intermission didn’t change a thing, either.

Very short Nanuet dalliances in the Somers end and sustained pressure the other way would soon break the dam. First, Casey Johns sent the ball in from the goal line, and the resulting penalty corner led to a scramble in the crease.

Going back to the goal line at 12:20, Guaragna received the ball, sent it over to Petrini, and her pass inside found another logjam. Donaldson emerged on the right all by herself and pushed the ball in for a 3-1 lead with 12 minutes left in the third.

Of course, Somers didn’t give an inch going forward, and the Tuskers essentially iced the game early in the fourth quarter. A penalty corner came across to Mayfield, and her lifted shot found the cage to close out the scoring and the day.