Dynamic Duo Leads John Jay to Victory in Field Hockey

The combination of John Jay senior Sophie Hasson and sophomore Sarah Lang worked like magic on the wet carpet at Putnam Valley High School Monday evening.

Hasson and Lang each scored twice and worked together on two scores that helped John Jay to a 4-1 triumph in Hudson Valley Summer Field Hockey League action against North Salem.

"Sarah and I have played together before," Hasson said. "We had a whole season on varsity last year. A lot of the chemistry comes from that. A lot of times we've played on the same side. We really have just fed off each other."

Hasson got John Jay off on the right foot as with less than a minute into the contest. Hasson scored with Lang getting the assist.

"Sarah was taking it up the side and then I got a beautiful cross from her," Hasson said. "When you're in the right position at the right time, it just works so it was easy to tap it in."

John Jay continued to dominate play as Lang had a great chance right in front of the goal but shot it right into the pads of the goalie. Lang had another great scoring opportunity but her shot hit the right side of the goal.

Lang and her teammates continued to pressure North Salem's defense and that pressure paid off when Lang, off an assist from Arden Sperry, scored to put John Jay up 2-0 going into halftime.

"I think domination comes from mental motivation," Lang said. "I think we all pump each other up. Every single time we go into a game we all take it like it's our championship game, so I think that's why we were successful."

John Jay continued to show that championship determination in the second half when Lang scored with the assist coming from Hasson.

"I think I work so well with Sophie because I have always looked up to her as a player to begin with," Lang said. "So when I try to play like her, I play like her. We play well together and always have an eye out for each other."

North Salem did score to cut John Jay's lead to two but got no closer thanks in large part to the outstanding play in goal by Sarah McMullen.

"I've never really seen Sarah play before and she surprised me a lot," Hasson said. "She really came out there and was stopping everything."

Lang was just as impressed with McMullen, who was getting the chance to start in goal in place of starting goalie Dayna Mercer.

"Sarah just started playing goalie last year," Lang said. "Knowing that she had pretty big shoes to fill [in Dayna's absence], she really stepped up her game and  really performed well."

John Jay's offense continued to perform well at the end of the game. With the Indians' coaches imploring the team to get one more goal, Hasson tallied an unassisted score.

"The coaches like to pump us up so I just really wanted to get it for them and it ended up happening," Hasson said.