SHRUB OAK, N.Y.—With a team featuring just five seniors, it was appropriate that the moment deciding whether top-seeded Lakeland’s dynasty would continue would come down to whether a freshman could make a shot during a shootout.
Lakeland’s Aditi Parambath was that freshman, and her goal helped the Hornets win the shootout 2-1, after a scoreless regulation and two overtimes, against visiting No. 3 Horace Greeley on Nov. 2 in the Section 1 Class B title game.
“I just listened to all my teammates, they were all just like calm down, calm down,” Parambath said. “Especially Gianna Santini, she is just always calming me down during the game. I knew I had to do something, so I just put the ball in the cage.”
The fact that she did something, like scoring the game-winning goal in the sectional title game, didn’t surprise Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen.
“She’s a mature freshman,” Sarsen said. “Last year, I had her up full-time on varsity, so she was the first sub in. She got a lot of experience and got comfortable with these kids. She is a confident kid; she believes in herself. She puts in the time. She plays club, ironically for Sukhi (Sandhu, Greeley coach). She played for both Sukhi and myself. She started at a younger age when I didn’t offer youth programs, so she started playing for Sukhi.”
The club team Parambath plays on for Sandhu is the Rye Field Hockey Academy.
“I started playing for him in sixth grade and I continue to play for him,” Parambath said. “Winning against the coach who taught me many things was just so exciting, because I put many things that he taught me into play and I showed him my full potential.”
Senior captain Gabby Santini also scored for Lakeland in the shootout, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
“It felt really amazing because I get to play with my sister (Gianna), which makes it even better,” Gabby Santini said of winning the sectional title. “Our team has really shown throughout the season that it can come through when it has to, so this is really good for us.”
Of course, Lakeland would never have gotten to the shootout, without the outstanding play of its junior goalie Jenna Yazzetti, who came up with 11 saves, including four in the shootout.
“It meant so much,” said Yazzetti. “We graduated a lot last year. We are a young team this year. We have five seniors but we are a very young team. So it feels incredible, it feels outstanding to just win with such a big group. They are all like my sisters.”
Sarsen had all the confidence in the world that Yazzetti would come up clutch like she did against Greeley.
“She is a spectacular goalie,” Sarsen said. “She steps up in the biggest moments and that’s the best goalkeeper. The bigger the moment, the better she plays. She plays well every day in practice but when the game is on the line, we’re glad we have 00 in the cage.”
The win gave Lakeland (18-2) its 24th sectional title in its legendary history, all under Sarsen, the winningest field hockey coach in New York State history and a member of New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Hall of Fame.
For the Hornets, it’s their 15th straight Section 1 Class B championship. Lakeland has won every championship game played since 2009.
The lone exception was 2020: Lakeland couldn't compete for a sectional title because that tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
In lieu of the sectional tournament, Lakeland earned the top seed, participated, and won the Putnam-Northern Westchester Small School Regional Tournament, with a 6-0 win against visiting No. 2 North Salem in the title game.
Lakeland advanced to the sectional finals with a 4-1 victory against visiting No. 4 Rye on Oct. 31 in the semifinals, led by Gabby Santini (2G, 1A), Keira Gallagher (2A), Parambath (1G), Kendal Williams (1G), and Yazzetti (1 save).
Lakeland also defeated visiting No. 8 Pelham 6-0 in the quarterfinals on Oct. 28, using six second-half goals to break a 0-0 halftime tie.
Gabby Santini (2G, 2A), Gianna Santini (1G, 1A), Gallagher (1G), Emily Daniel (1G), Anna Lemma (1G), and Riley Waters (1A) produced for the Hornets versus the Pelicans.
Brianna Heyde, Winter Willbright, Victoria Myniv, Gabriella Goldstein, Meaghan Heyde, Antonia Supino, Shannon Quaile, Madison Wohlberg, Olivia O’Connor, and Alyssa Stockinger (assistant coach) also make up the Hornets’ championship squad.
Lakeland will play in the Class B regional championship game at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 against Section 9 champion Our Lady of Lourdes at Arlington High School.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here