North field hockey earns first state title
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

All season, the goal of the Williamsville North field hockey team was to win a New York State Class A title. The Lady Spartans can now say the mission has been accomplished.

North (23-0) capped off a perfect season by defeating Section I's Lakeland, the defending Class A state champions, 2-1, on Sunday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School to win its first state title in field hockey.

North lost 2-0 to Lakeland in the 2003 Class A state final.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," said North coach Kris Lapaglia. "The games at the state level take a lot out of you. For the kids to handle the pressure and get the job done is a great feeling."

Lapaglia said many of her players have faced members of Lakeland during Olympic Development Programs.

North had a 2-0 lead until 1.5 minutes left in the game when Jill Bozek scored on a scramble in front of goalie Nicole Lewis. Lewis only finished with three saves but they were all important.

"They had a corner opportunity where she extended her leg going for a shot to the far corner on the inside post," said Lapaglia. "She got her foot on it and deflected it off the end line."

Junior forward Emily O'Gorman scored nine minutes into the first half on a deflection by senior midfielder Chantae Miller. Senior midfielder Leslie Ahern, from Miller and freshman attacker Allie Ahern, scored on a corner 10 minutes into the second half.

"We definitely knew it was going to be physical," said Lapaglia. "They play comparable to how we play. It was definitely a chess match."

To advance to their second state title final appearance, North defeated Ward Melville of Section XI, 3-0. The first 9:47 of the first half was played on Friday night but a lake effect snowstorm postponed the rest of the game until Saturday afternoon.

North completely dominated Ward Melville in the part of the game played on Friday.

"One of the players' fathers took a picture of the field (with snow on it)," said Lapaglia. "There were only footprints in Ward Melville's defensive zone at that point."

When the game resumed so did North's domination. Miller scored at 15:04 of the first half from Allie Ahern on a corner. Allie Ahern scored a minute into the second half from a hard shot from the 35-yard line by sophomore defender Holly Flanigan. Flanigan got possession of the ball after a shot from Miller hit the post and the rebound bounced to her.

"Holly hit it so hard and fast that all Allie had to do was put her stick down and deflect it in," said Lapaglia.

Ten minutes later, Miller made it 3-0 on an assist from Allie Ahern.

Lewis made two saves.

"You always worry when there is a delay how a team will respond," said Lapaglia. "To their credit, they stayed focused."

Lapaglia lauded the play of Miller.

"She took herself out of the midfield zone, stood by the midline and did a good job of picking the ball off or stopping their long hits through the middle," said Lapaglia.

Miller, Lewis and senior defender Adriana Meholick were named to the all-state tournament team. Flanigan earned the sportsmanship award.

Miller finished the season with 41 goals and 31 assists. The senior closes out her six-year career with 148 goals and 134 assists. She will graduate in January to start taking classes at Michigan State University, where she has received a full scholarship to play field hockey.

"The greatest lesson she could have given the team is to teach the younger players how to win and what is expected out of a North field hockey player," said Lapaglia. "The younger kids have embraced her."

"After the Lakeland game, several of the seniors were challenging the younger kids to get back here (win state title) next year," she added. "It was pretty cool."

Allie Ahern (12 goals, 13 assists), Leslie Ahern (10 goals, 12 assists), O'Gorman (12 goals, six assists), Meholick (five goals, seven assists), and junior attacker Caitlin Butler (nine goals, three assists) and midfielder Lauren Weber (goal, four assists) contributed for North.

Lewis finished with 19 shutouts and 53 for her career. Lewis and the North defense allowed four goals all season. North scored 98 goals.

Other seniors on North are defenders Emily Curry and Trish Kennery.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com