Class L Field Hockey: Soaring Owls

BEDFORD – Emily Cannon's overtime goal lifted Timberlane of Plaistow to a 3-2 win over Pinkerton of Derry yesterday in the Class L championship game at Bedford High School.

Cannon lunged and hit a reverse shot from a tight angle. The ball deflected off outstanding Astros goalie Gina Rosinski (9 saves), and just over the line 4:54 into overtime.

"I said, 'I've got to get a touch on this, I've got to get a touch on it,'" Cannon said. "So I just swung for a shot. I knew people would be there. I was just lucky it went in."

Cannon's goal capped the top ranked Owls perfect (17-0) season.

"The kids we lost last year were important but I thought we had the pieces in place," Timberlane coach Mim Ryan said. "We just got on a roll and the kids kept believing."

Late arriving spectators missed four goals yesterday. The score was 2-2 before 14 minutes were played.

Pinkerton took a 1-0 lead through Shannon Murphy at 1:16. Timberlane then got consecutive goals from Krista DeLuca and Nicole Rothwell at 2:46, and 9:50 respectively. And Astros forward Shealyn Testa tipped home a perfectly worked penalty corner routine at 13:17.

From then until Cannon's game winner, Rosinski, Owls goalie Katalin Orbin (8 saves), and their defenses clamped down.

The season didn't end the way the third-ranked Astros (14-3) hoped, though that didn't prevent their longtime mentor Denise Rioux from feeling pride.

"It came down to one bounce and one shot," Rioux said. "It's unfortunate ... it's hard for the seniors. It's a disappointing result. We gave it our all."