No team has beaten Sachem East this year in girls field hockey. To say they’re dominant would be an understatement.
The Flaming Arrows played to a 15-0 regular season record and allowed just four goals all year. After a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the top-seeded Flaming Arrows took the field against the No. 9 seeded Riverhead Blue Waves.
Though Riverhead just came off a spectacular performance against Sachem East’s crosstown rival Sachem North, winning their first playoff game in 30 years, the number one seed just played like a number one seed on Tuesday afternoon.
Riverhead was the latest victim burned in the Flaming Arrows’ flight path, losing 7-0.
When a team goes out and plays error-free hockey and capitalizes on every opportunity, it’s hard to build any momentum.
“They have so much skill,” head coach Cheryl Walsh-Edwards said. “I have to give it to them, they just have so many strong players.”
Cara Trombetta, a key player in Sachem East’s attack, scored two goals to go along with her two assists. She leads her team in points with 27.
“She went to work today,” Walsh-Edwards said of Trombetta. “She’s really tough to stop.”
Taylor Giordano added two goals of her own for the Flaming Arrows.
Riverhead was playing without their starting goalie, Grace Dow, who suffered a concussion in the final game of the season against Smithtown East. Freshman Rachel Bornstein played in her place. She earned her first varsity victory against Sachem North last game, only allowing one goal.
“Second varsity game ever and you’re playing the best team in the County,” Walsh-Edwards said. “It’s tough. But could another goalie have stopped those goals? I don’t know. They’re just so talented.”
It was a bitter ending to an otherwise sweet season. As the game came to an end, Walsh-Edwards applauded her team’s effort.
“There’s nothing to hang your head about,” she said to the girls as they lined up to shake hands.
“I’m so proud of them,” Walsh-Edwards said. “I know you see 7-0, a blowout, but I think they still represented Riverhead well. They came out, played hard and never gave up.”
What else could Riverhead ask for?
It’s not like they were the first field hockey team in Riverhead to win a playoff game in 30 years or anything.
Photos by Michael Hejmej
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