Yorktown has long been a community that comes together to support one another, and a shining example was the large crowd gathered at Charlie Murphy Field at Yorktown High School on Saturday afternoon.
The crowd came to watch Lakeland (13-2-1, 3-1) and Yorktown (14-1, 4-0) compete in the inaugural Sheridan Gorman Heart of Yorktown Cup, named in honor of Gorman, a 2025 Yorktown graduate who was a member of the Huskers’ girls varsity bowling team, served as manager for the field hockey and girls lacrosse teams, and participated in the school’s Big Buddy peer mentoring program.
Gorman, 18, was murdered near her college campus at Loyola University Chicago in March.
On a day filled with emotion, the Huskers won 3-2 to claim the league title. Before Saturday, Lakeland had gone 21-0-1 against Yorktown since 2007.
During that span, Lakeland had outscored the Huskers 130-4.
The lone tie came in 2023, when Yorktown’s Marina Bowen scored with 5:03 remaining to even the game at 1-1, backed by 25 saves from Annie Durante.
Lakeland’s unbeaten streak against Yorktown may have extended further back than 2007, but that could not be confirmed.
“We knew that today was bigger than a field hockey game,” said Yorktown coach Courtney Hyndman. “We knew it was for Sheridan, who was such a huge part of our lives. We knew win or lose, we were going to come out feeling great about this but the win just makes it that much sweeter.”
Lakeland’s Aditi Parambath said playing in the game meant a lot.
“We didn’t play to just win, we played for someone who lost their lives in a very bad way,” Parambath said. “It’s hard to have fun and also be competitive but I think both teams did that today. We may have a lasting rivalry, but this game brought our town closer. Lakeland field hockey players and family sends their prayers to the Gorman family.”
Ava Ryan’s first-quarter goal gave the Huskers a 1-0 lead.
“This wins, it means so much,” Ryan said. “I’ve never beat Lakeland in field hockey. There is literally no better day to do it than in a game like this, on a day we are honoring Sheridan, because she had such an impact on our community and the whole, entire team. We were really just playing for Sheridan. That brought out the best part of our team. We literally were connecting everywhere. We won and it was the best feeling ever.”
A goal by Lakeland’s Gabby Goldstein 29 seconds into the second quarter, assisted by Gianna Santini, tied the game at 1-1.
“The goal happened because of our team working our ball up the field and hustling to every ball to get the ball into the circle, so I could hit it in,” Goldstein said. “It felt great to tie it up and celebrate the goal with my teammates.”
Lily Diaz scored just before time expired in the opening half to put Yorktown back in front 2-1.
“It was very exciting,” Diaz said. “I was able to just go around, with the assistance of my QB, who was Grace Condron, she helped me out, she told me where to go and I was able to just lay it in there, luckily it ended up in the goal, and led us off into halftime feeling great.”
At halftime, Sheridan’s father, Tom; mother, Jessica; and older sister, Madelon, all spoke. Jessica’s words appeared to inspire the Huskers. Ryan scored 2 minutes, 3 seconds into the third quarter, extending the Yorktown advantage to 3-1.
“The words that she shared were so deep and we all loved Sheridan so much and we miss her so much,” Ryan said. “So just hearing her mom talk about Sheridan like that, it just lighted us up during halftime. We scored a goal and they responded to that. It just kept being back and forth. It was like we needed to put it in and definitely the words, it went straight to the heart.”
Diaz agreed.
“After hearing Tom and Jess speak at halftime, it just lit something else up in us and enabled us to play even harder for the rest of the game,” Diaz said.
Parambath scored the game’s final goal on a penalty stroke with 1:47 remaining in the contest.
“The only thing I was thinking about was burying the ball,” Parambath said. “We needed something that put our minds back in the game. Unfortunately it happened too late but I really wanted to just put another goal on the scoreboard.”
Yorktown’s Anna Burns (1A), Sam Conboy (7 saves), and Lakeland’s Olivia O’Connor (2 saves) produced as well, with Santini and Yorktown’s Megan Durante being named the game’s scholarship recipients.
“To play in the first Sheridan Gorman Heart of Yorktown Cup felt great,” Goldstein said. “I felt like it really brought together our community and show that it’s more than a game. Me and my teammates felt honored to be able to play in this game in remembrance of Sheridan.”
Yorktown and Lakeland also played on Oct. 14, with the Huskers winning at Walter Panas 9-0, led by Burns (3G), Diaz (2G, 2A), Ryan (2G, 1A), Maddie Murray (1G, 1A), and Alana D’Andraia (1G).
Santini (1G, 2A), Riley Waters (1G), Kendal Williams (1G), and O’Connor (2 saves) produced for the Hornets in their 3-3 tie at Rye.
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