For a team that hasn’t been tested much this year, Mamaroneck certainly knows how to navigate end-of-game scenarios.
On Sunday, November 17, the Tigers claimed their second-straight NYSPHSAA Class A State Championship in thrilling fashion, edging Section 4’s Guilderland 2-1 on a double-overtime game winner by senior Catherine D’Arcy to punctuate a perfect season with an exclamation mark.
Taking on the Dutchmen at Arlington High School may have been the Tigers’ stiffest test to date as Mamaroneck came into Sunday’s title matchup having not allowed a goal since September 27—outscoring foes by a significant margin in the time span. But a stingy Guilderland defense kept things scoreless through the first half.
But Lily Brickman got things started with a third quarter goal to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead, giving hope to Mamaroneck fans that another state title was that would stand until the final minutes of the game, when Guilderland converted on a last-second corner to send things into overtime.
The Tigers would get a golden chance to put the game away in the first overtime period, when a foul call led to a penalty shot for D’Arcy, though she was unable to convert—something that made her game-winner even sweeter in the eyes of head coach Tricia Miller.
“After that penalty chance, I said to her, you’re going to get another chance to win this game and you’re going to make it,” said the head coach. “Catherine has meant so much to this team over the years and for her to finish her career like that, it’s really special.”
Miller noted that although the Tigers did not play in many close games, they were quick to adapt to the seven-on-seven format of the overtime period.
“It’s something we’ve been working on all year, starting right at the beginning,” said Miller. “We practiced that all year so we were ready for a moment like today.”
For D’Arcy and the rest of the seniors the win puts a nice capstone on high school careers, something the group knew would be a top priority after securing last year’s state title.
“After winning last year, we got right back to work; there was a lot of pressure on us to defend as champions,” said D’Arcy. “We knew what we had, we knew what it took to get here, we knew what it felt like to win, so we just wanted to come back and bring it back home again.”
