Baldwin reaches field hockey finals

It would be understandable to think that the Baldwin field hockey team would be a quick out in the playoffs after winning just three games during the regular season and not scoring a goal in nearly a month.

But that’s why games are not played on paper.

Dana Elcock scored on a breakaway with 8:21 left in the second sudden death overtime period and goaltender Leana Solomon had a key save in the first extra session as third-seeded Baldwin outlasted second-ranked Port Washington 3-2 on Oct. 29 to advance to the Nassau A final.

Tess Ferguson had a goal and an assist and Sophia Smyth also scored for Baldwin, which took the rubber match in the season series with the Lady Vikings. The Lady Bruins won the first 3-1 on Sept. 18 before Port exacted revenge with a 2-1 triumph over a week later.

Baldwin snapped a four-game losing streak, during which they were outscored 13-0. Their previous victory was a 3-2 triumph over Clarke on Oct. 4.

The Lady Bruins moved the ball well throughout the first half and got the only goal of the session by Ferguson with an assist from Dianna Meere. Port Washington tied it in the second, but Sophia Smyth helped Baldwin regain the lead with a penalty-corner tally with 9:53 left. The euphoria didn’t last long, however, as the Lady Vikings knotted the game again with 5:12 remaining.

“It was kind of like how our season is,” coach Michael Hoover said. “I have to give credit to the captains and the seniors, understanding that and keeping the rest of the girls together because we’re kind of a young team.”

On the winning goal, which was set up by a strong defensive play by Cianna Gibson, Elcock took a pass and cut down the middle of the field before finding herself along at about the 25-yard line. Her shot eluded Port goaltender Laura Mody at the far post to send Baldwin to the county final.

“It’s fun,” Hoover said. “You’re just so happy for the girls. They’re the ones, since the end of August, have been doing two-a-day practices before school got started. They work all year round for this.”

The goal was also helped set up by a clutch performance by Solomon, who stopped a breakaway in the first overtime period. She had five saves on the day.

Elcock, a senior who started her varsity career as a goalie, has three goals this season to tie her for the team lead with Meere.

“When she has the ball and space, you can’t touch her,” Hoover said.

Baldwin hung tough in the final against top-ranked Massapequa on Sunday, but lost 2-0. Despite the setback, Hoover believes that experience of playing in a championship game will help the program in the coming years.

“We have ninth and tenth graders who don’t know what going to this game means,” he said. “They need to see it, they need to live it and they need to feel it.”