STONY BROOK SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER CAPTURES FIRST EVER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! |
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THE STONY BROOK SCHOOL GIRLS VARSITY STATE CHAMPION SOCCER TEAM |
| It was gray skies and cool winds in Cortland, NY this past weekend for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Girls Soccer Class C State Final Four, but the weather could not dampen the spirits of the team from The Stony Brook School, who defeated #1 ranked and previously unbeaten Sauquoit Valley (Section III) 2-1 to capture the school's first ever state championship - in any sport. | ||
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The Lady Bears returned to the Final Four this year after last year's disappointing trip that resulted in a semifinal loss to eventual Co-State Champion York High School. The girls made it a point to get back and take care of unfinished business. There were a few changes in the offseason. Mark Maningo took over as coach after many years working in the Newfield and Centereach programs, and All-State midfielder Karina Scavo graduated and took her game to the University of New England. But most of the team returned, including a core of junior forward Michelle Hennessey (Stony Brook, NY), junior defender Brianna Stiklickas (Nesconset, NY) and junior goalie Danielle Pappas (East Setauket, NY) - and those players wanted to make history. Add to those players junior Donna Liotine (Medford, NY), the team's leader in points, and the team was poised for a great run. The Lady Bears were challenged in the State Semi-final, played last Friday at Tomkins-Cortland Community College. Playing the second-ranked team in the state, Seton Catholic (Section VII) from Plattsburgh, the Lady Bears were unable to get a goal in regulation but were able to shut out their opponents, and the game moved into the two mandated ten minute overtime periods. The scoreless game continued into the second overtime period, but sophomore Kelsey Wentling (New York, NY) was able to score with under 3 minutes left on an assist from Hennessy and The Stony Brook School held on for a 1-0 victory. Pappas had 12 saves for her third shutout of the playoffs. |
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 Donna Liotine (Medford) for the assist of the winning goal. Photo courtesy of Karen Singer |
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 The Lady Bears celebrate making school history as the first team to win a state title. Photo courtesy of Karen Singer |
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 Coach Maningo, Rebekah Sides (Stony Brook, NY), Donna Liotine (Medford, NY), and Danielle Pappas (East Setauket, NY) proudly hold their state Championship plaque up high for the crowd to see. photo by David Church |
Coach Maningo urged on his team at the half and they came out aggressively, dominating play in the early going, and it paid off. Liotine shot a ball forward to Hennessy, who was able to drive it home for a 2-1 lead just 6:35 into the half. After that, the Lady Bears played tenacious defense, led by Stiklickas and her backfield mates Lisa Harbes (Mattituck, NY) and Emily Carmel (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY), who along with Pappas secured the 2-1 lead and the School's first state championship. No team gets there without a full compliment of players, whether it was the midfield play of sophomore Tina Stavola (Setauket, NY), the team's third leading scorer, or the gritty play of midfielder and junior Christine Brathwaite (Setauket, NY). Then there were the strong runs from the forward position by freshmen Gianna Scavo (Mt. Sinai, NY) and seventh grader Emily Pius (Setauket, NY) or the leadership of senior captain Rebekah Sides (Stony Brook, NY). |
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