Commack's Olivia Bezmalinovic makes key save before Cougars net three in fourth quarter
Amelia Brite of Commack comes in for a shot against goalie Julia Hipperling of Floyd during a Suffolk lacrosse game on Friday. Credit: Dawn McCormick
With the score tied late in the third quarter and Floyd gaining momentum, Commack senior goalie Olivia Bezmalinovic stood tall and made the biggest save of the night, stopping Floyd’s Emma DiMaio on a free-position shot with seconds left in the period.
It was the save that turned the tide.
Commack responded with three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 12-9 win over visiting Floyd in a Suffolk I girls lacrosse matchup on Friday night, concluding the regular season with a 15-1 record.
“Five years ago, we knew this senior class was going to bring us to where we are now,” Commack coach Melissa Read said. “They’re just unbelievable players.”
Senior midfielder Amelia Brite, a Florida State commit, scored three goals, including a spectacular backhand finish in the fourth that gave Commack an 11-9 lead with 5:37 left.
“With each pass, we have faith in each other,” Brite said. “It’s a big part of our success.”
Sophomore Samantha Benedict, who had three goals and three assists, helped give Commack a 5-4 lead in the first quarter and sparked a second-quarter run that gave the Cougars a 9-6 halftime advantage.
“They give me a lot of confidence and pick everybody up,” Benedict said. “It’s the reason why we’re so successful.”
Floyd (10-6), a Class A semifinalist last year, surged back in the third quarter. Behind DiMaio (three goals, three assists), Floyd erased a the deficit and tied the score at nine. Her pinpoint pass to Natalie Samlihan with three minutes left in the quarter led to the tying goal. Julia Hipperling made eight saves for the Colonials.
“Positivity drives this team,” said senior Aubrey Maurer, who scored twice. “We pick each other back up if someone makes a bad play because we know if we start to get negative and down, we also go down as a team.”
Liliana Pettit had two goals in the Cougars’ balanced attack, including a shot with 1:30 left to seal it. Emily Parisi and Ashley Arizonis scored and Bezmalinovic made three saves.
“We’ve been looking forward to this since eighth grade,” Maurer said. “We’re so determined this year.”
With the top seed potentially going to the Cougars, they hope to enter the Class A playoffs as the team to beat.
“I want it more than ever now,” Brite said. “This is our last chance to go all the way, and we’re not stopping until it’s done.”
