Beech's Late Goal is the Difference in Pierson Field Hockey's 2-0 Victory Over East Islip

A pair of late goals in the game’s final five minutes were the difference in the Pierson field hockey team’s 2-0 home victory over East Islip on Thursday, September 8.

Sophia Beech scored Pierson’s first goal of the game, which stood up as the game winner, with 4:39 remaining, off an assist from Eleana Merola. The goal came off a corner, which was forced by a hustle play from Meredith Spolarich. The Whalers didn’t initially score off the corner, but Merola found Beech open who had only seconds to get off a strong shot before an East Islip defender closed in on her.

“Matter of getting it on the stick and getting it to the goal,” Beech said of her goal.

“We’re strong on our corners when we get them out of the circle,” she added. “We have a strong finish. If we’re looking up and passing, and we’re passing good, like switching the field, if we really execute it, we get it done.”

Just over three minutes later, Spolarich sent a strong shot in off a corner that went off the stick of Lily Perello and up and over the head of the East Islip goalie and into the cage to give the Whalers the insurance goal it needed with 1:29 remaining.

Spolarich said it was all about finishing in the win over East Islip. The Redmen had controlled possession, and with it just about every other facet of the game, in the first quarter and through much of the first half. But Pierson started to pick things up in the second half where it turned the tables, controlling much of the game late.

“We had the first goal. We knew that wasn’t enough, we needed another,” Spolarich said. “I think we really picked it up at the end and really played together as a team. And Lily was just in the right spot at the right time and she executed really well.”

Perello said it felt really good to get that all important insurance goal and gave credit to the coaches for a strong halftime talk to get the team back on track.

“We have good coaches, we have a strong defense. I think once we realized if we just get those passes, we’ll be fine,” she explained. “We’ll run the other team out of breath and we’ll keep passing and play a pretty game instead of just running around.”

Kim Spolarich, in her first year coaching the team along with assistant Heidi Wilson, gave credit to her team for making the second half turnaround it made and it all started with more communication on the field.

“I believe their passing and supporting one another on the field made a huge difference in the ability to move the ball forward,” she said. “I think the communication back and forth really helped. Being able to say, ‘I’m open, I’m available,’ for the pass.”

Spolarich said the first few weeks of the season have gone well. Pierson suffered its first loss, 2-0, at Rocky Point on September 6 on what Spolarich said was a horrific, rainy day, so it was nice to bounce back with the win over East Islip.

“It’s a great team,” she said. “We have a veteran team for the first time in a couple of years. That makes a huge difference. I believe in their spirit, their ability to work together, and they’re the ones that really want it so they’re kind of controlling that energy.”

Pierson played at Miller Place on Wednesday and will host Shoreham-Wading River at Mashashimuet Park the following day, Thursday, September 15, at 5 p.m.