Meier's four goals spark Sayville
Anticipation had grown and folks were getting antsy, wondering if and when Sayville would ever show up at Rocky Point.
Only 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time Wednesday and the team's bus hadn't arrived. Oh yeah, and Sayville had never beaten the Eagles at home. Long wait for that, too.
But for the Golden Flashes, it was better late than, well, later, on both counts as Sayville topped defending Suffolk Class B champion Rocky Point, 12-9, in girls lacrosse.
"Our JV game got canceled and they thought varsity's was, too," Emily Meier said, explaining the tardiness that led to a 15-minute delay. "We had to wait for the bus to come back and pick us up."
Meier's timing was perfect on the field. The midfielder scored four goals to lead Sayville. Connie Neilsen added three goals and two assists, Taylor Mills had three assists and Leah Leddy made 10 saves.
The Golden Flashes (7-1, 4-0), sharp despite another persistent April shower, had the look of a team that could become a May power. They've taken Division II by storm, amid the controversy of their coach Gary Jensen's suspension for the season last week for scheduling violations.
"They took our coach, so we want to make up for it in wins," defender Olivia Cabral said. " Sznitken was our defensive coach but he's worked hard to learn all the plays and he's taken leadership, which made it easier for us."
Caitlin Gargan's tally 47 seconds in gave Rocky Point a 1-0 lead, but Meier answered with two goals. The second off a feed from Kimmy Marra at 23:48 gave Sayville a lead it didn't relinquish.
"We got fired up when we fell behind, like, 'We have to win this game,' " Meier said.
Sayville went up 9-4 before the Eagles (2-4, 2-3) rallied early in the second half and closed within 9-7 on Catlynn Kundrat's goal. But Marra (three assists) scored at 15:41, zipping one in from 4 yards after a series of fakes and stutter steps. Neilsen's goal with 9:55 left made it 12-8.
"This win was huge," said Neilsen, whose team lost, 16-9, last year in its previous meeting with Rocky Point. "Not just for today, but the Sayville [teams] before us . . . I think we're starting to prove ourselves."
Gargan had three goals and an assist, and Julie Nolan made 12 saves for Rocky Point, which has struggled somewhat while working some inexperienced players into the lineup, coach Jennifer Fucich said.
Nevertheless . . .
"They're the champs," Sznitken said. "To get a win against them lifts our spirits."
And, for Sayville, it's about time.
Yankees pushed to brink, game 3 wrap ... Queens County Farm ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
Yankees pushed to brink, game 3 wrap ... Queens County Farm ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV