Emma Shanahan's OT goal gives Bayport-Blue Point field hockey win
Bayport-Blue Point freshman forward Emma Shanahan after her winning goal in overtime against Miller Place, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. Credit: George A Faella
The Bayport-Blue Point field hockey team looked a bit off in the first half of its matchup against defending Suffolk Class B champion Miller Place Tuesday evening, and head coach Karen Gick took notice.
"I told them they needed to stop being their own worst enemy, and to get out of their own heads. I could see the frustration on their faces," Gick said. "We had a whole half to play and I told them at halftime, ‘it’s up to you guys how you want it to end.’ "
What an ending it was.
With the score tied at the end of regulation, the teams headed to a 10-minute, seven-a-side sudden victory overtime period. As the seconds ticked down, Emma Shanahan took a pass from fellow freshman Aubrie Eisfeld and scored with 1 minute, 28 seconds remaining to propel the Phantoms past the host Panthers, 2-1, in Suffolk Division II.
"Once I got the ball on my stick I just tried to go to goal right away," Shanahan said. "The adrenaline was rushing, I looked to see what I had in front of me and put it in the back of the net."
"She wasn’t even a starter coming into the season," Gick said of Shanahan. "One of my seniors has been out for a few weeks and she has stepped in and has really helped in clutch moments."
Bayport-Blue Point improved to 9-1 overall, 9-0 in Division II. Miller Place fell to 7-1-1 both overall and in the division.
The contest was a rematch of the Suffolk Class B spring championship on April 21. The Panthers won that contest 1-0 and captured the county title.
Taylor Giugliano, who scored the lone goal in that county championship, opened the scoring with 9:28 remaining in the second quarter for Miller Place when she rifled in a shot from 15 yards. The Panthers went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
The Phantoms got on the board with 8:05 left in the third quarter off a penalty corner. Sophomore Kendal Woolley inserted the corner and after a few passes, Shanahan gave it back to Woolley. Her first shot attempt was kept out by the Miller Place defense, but she followed her own rebound and scored to tie the score at 1.
"They got us in the spring last year, so this was a big one for us," Gick said. "Our starting lineup is five sophomores, two freshmen, not even a handful of juniors and one senior. Every game when we are asking them to make adjustments, they are doing it. It is impressive with kids this young."