Tournament Run Ends for East Hampton Girls

East Hampton’s run through the Class S State tournament came to an end on Tuesday.

Marissa Queznel’s goal with 10:37 remaining in the second half was the only score of the game, lifting Litchfield to a 1-0 victory at home and a spot in the semifinals.

“We’re all disappointed,” East Hampton coach Glenn Gustine said. “We came in expecting to be competitive and we were. The game could have gone either way. To give one up late in the second half is always disappointing but our kids are resilient, they gave their best effort and I’m very proud of all of them.”

The 18^th-seeded Bellringers stayed with the Cowgirls for most of the game, relying on its defense to absorb Litchfield’s attack and counter when possible.  East Hampton, which was outshot 14-10, had its chances on offense, just not that one quality opportunity it could capitalize on.

“It was a well fought-out game,” Gustine said. “I think we started the match fairly well. We were able to move the ball a bit and we were very competitive with Litchfield in the midfield, competing for balls and stuff. I just think Litchfield was able to finish its chance and hats off to them.”

Alison Bristol turned in another fine game in goal for the Bellringers. Bristol had several saves, including one late in the first half where she leapt to deflect a ball which seemed destined for the top of the net over the crossbar, and another with about 22 minutes left in the second half where she came out and challenged Isabelle Binstadt, who rocketed a ball at her from point-blank range. Bristol was shaken up on the play but remained in the game.

“She’s really good,” Gustine said of his freshman keeper. “You saw that spectacular save she took on in the breakaway. Really good kid. Really good keeper.”

The game was physical from the start and more so in the second half with neither team able to establish much extended possession in the other’s end of the field.

East Hampton senior Colleen Owen twice went down to the ground and was slow to get up during the game because of hard contact.

“She was banged up a couple times during the game so I know she has some lumps and bruises,” Gustine said. “She’s played a great season for us.”

Then, with less than 11 minutes remaining in regulation, the Cowgirls sent the ball down the right side of the field and the race was on. Queznel got to the ball first and continued downfield before sending a low, hard-struck ball toward the net.

“It was outside, down the line,” Queznel said. “I was trying to cross it and somehow luckily it just rolled some way and it went in.”

The goal proved to be the game-winner, and with it, history was made for Litchfield.

“It was so amazing,” Queznel said of scoring the game’s lone goal. “We actually made history for making it to the semis for the first time.”

Said Gustine of the goal: “I think they were just able to penetrate too deep. We gave them a little bit too much territory and they were able to use it to get a shot off. It was a well-struck ball. We just gave them a little too much time and space.”

As with Litchfield (11-4-2), the game had historical significance for East Hampton (7-7-5).

“We’ve carried this further than East Hampton has been,” Gustine said of reaching the quarterfinals. “We’ve tied the furthest we’ve been in the tournament in the last 15 years, so this is a real high-water mark for the team. They might not see it today, but they will.”

Indeed. After a season of ups and downs where the Bellringers struggled at times to score, tied five matches and lost to a three-win Old Lyme team late in the season, they gelled at the right time, going unbeaten in the four games leading up to Tuesday. Included in those four games were upset wins over Putnam and No. 2 seed Lyman Memorial. Against Litchfield, the effort and heart was there even if the magical outcome of the past two games wasn’t.

“We’re all disappointed right now,” senior Sarah Denihan said, “but I think tomorrow and the next day we’ll be more and more proud of ourselves because, as Glenn told us, the furthest that the East Hampton girls’ program has ever gone is the quarterfinals. We’ve just tied the record for the first time in 15 years. It’s disappointing to lose now, but it’s not that disappointing when you think of how far we’ve come from the beginning of the season.”

As difficult as it will be to replace Owen, Denihan and Rebecca Gustine, who scored twice against Putnam, the future looks bright for the young Bellringers.

“I am very optimistic,” Glenn Gustine said. “We do lose some very good players. We have three varsity seniors, but there’s a lot of experienced underclassmen here as well and they’ll all be back.”