Rocky Point Field Hockey Tops Miller Place to Remain Undefeated

After 70 minutes of scoreless action between the Rocky Point and Miller Place varsity field hockey squads, the visiting Eagles defeated the host Panthers on penalty strokes Wednesday afternoon in a League III game.

Catlynn Kundrat, Cindy Russell and Kristine Loscalzo converted on consecutive penalty strokes for Rocky Point to earn the Eagles’ third straight win to start the season. Rocky Point held a 3-1 advantage on penalty strokes.

Maggie Revera converted the first penalty stroke for the Panthers. Rocky Point netminder Casey Heely stopped the next two Miller Place attempts to secure the win. 

Eagles’ head coach Katie Bittner said the win was her best in four years of coaching.

“We came into it and had nothing to lose,” Bittner said. “I thought the girls came out fired up, I thought we had plenty of opportunities to score. Friday [against Southampton] I thought was my best win as a coach. This by far, was my best victory as a coach because both teams played well.”

In the dwindling seconds of regulation, Rocky Point (3-0, 2-0 League III) sophomore Annie Kennedy played a ball through the middle to classmate Ashley Faulhaber. Kennedy’s pass went beyond the reach of Faulhaber’s stick and passed the end line to force an extra period.

“Every time [Kennedy] or Alyssa Milano gets the ball I think something good is going to happen” Bittner said. “Kennedy just got cleared at 10 o’clock this morning to play.”

Miller Place (1-3, 1-1 League III) goalkeeper Chelsea Blaney made multiple saves in the extra period to force the penalty stroke situation. Panthers’ head coach Alana LaMorte said despite the loss the defensive effort was sound.

“Our defense is pretty solid and it’s what we train them to be,” LaMorte said. “We just didn’t put it in [the goal] when we should have.”

Prior to a flurry of shots by the Eagles offense, Alex Hutzler had the ball for Miller Place at midfield. As she sprinted toward the goal with 5:40 remaining in overtime, Hutzler could not get a shot off as she was surrounded by Heely and a defender.

Rocky Point will conclude its two-game road trip at Greenport/Southold/Shelter Island on Friday at 4 p.m. Miller Place will begin a two-game road trip on Sept. 22, when it takes on Pierson/Bridgehampton at Mashashimuet Park at 4 p.m.