Live: Girls Lacrosse Long Island Championship

We're here at Hofstra University where the Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse team is seeking its fourth straight Long Island championship. The Wildcats once again are playing the Manhasset Indians, who have been on the losing end of the last three meetings between the two schools.

A few notes before the game:

I spoke briefly with coach Bob Vlahakis and he said the girls are ready to go. Freshman Alyssa Fleming, who was injured at the end of the county championship game when struck by the stick of a Mount Sinai attacker on a shot attempt, had been cleared and is OK to go. Fleming plays on defense and while young, is an important member of that crew.

Another new face would can expect to see briefly is Ali Davis, a sophomore, who after a great preseason had a setback because of an injury that kept her out pretty much all year. Vlahakis said Codi Mullen has played a lot more in the midfield this year as opposed to attack to make up for Davis' absence. But Davis will get about a five-minute shift at some point today.

Another note: Manhasset only arrived on the field with about 15 minutes left on the clock before the announcements are scheduled to begin. Not sure if they delay in getting on the field will have any effect on the team. But the Wildcats were on the field for at least 15 more minutes warming up.

The crowd still filing in here at Hofstra. Only about 40 people in the bleachers with eight minutes to go before game-time.

As is always the case, the key for Shoreham is to win draws and maintain possessions. When the Wildcats have the ball, they will score often enough. The only way to beat the Wildcats is to have a lot more possessions and a lot more chances to score. Manhasset needs to get off to a fast start in this game I think.

We're mere moments away from the opening draw!

The opening draw will be between Stephanie Anderson and Ryan Wenk. It goes to Shoreham and we're off.

SWR turns it over on its first possession. Alex Franck intercepts a pass and shovels it over to Michelle Verbeeck in cage and the Wildcats are running. But the Wildcats turn it over themselves.

1-0 Manhasset, Wenk cuts across the middle, catches a feed and scores with 22:27 left.

Wildcats get the draw but turn it over again. Wildcats still have no shots.

2-0 Manhasset. Olivia Walters scores and it's the Indians ahead by two with 21:13 to play.

Wildcats win the draw behind Chelsey Newman. And Wenk gets whistled for a yellow card. Big call there. Let's see if the Wildcats can capitalize. 

Wildcats immediately turn it over again. A nice play by Newman on defense has the Wildcats running. Kate Boden is fouled and will get the free position. Her shot is saved.

Verbeeck makes her first save with 19:45 to play.

There's an injury time-out with 19:14 to play. Manhasset's Jenny Vlahos is helped off the field slowly.

Manhasset has the ball and a 2-0 lead. Verbeeck makes her second save and the Wildcats turn it over yet again trying to clear.

With 17:55 to play Verbeeck makes another save and is keeping this game close for Shoreham. The turnovers continue to pile up for SWR.

Steph Anderson will get a free position shot and it's saved with 16:10 to play. Manhasset gets the ball.

Rachel Wiederkehr is denied on a free position and the Wildcats are 0-3 thus far.

Anderson gets hit hard, there's no call, and she's down on the ground. She'll slowly walk off the field and Kait Brosco hustles in to replace her.

Manhasset is playing very physical against Shoreham and it's working so far.

Another free position, this time Brittany DeLea, is saved.

Under 12 minutes to play and the Wildcats are still scoreless.

3-0 Wenk scores her second on a low shot to the left corner and the Indians are rolling now with the three-goal advantage. There's 11:18 to play.

Wildcats are 4-0 on draws but it hasn't helped yet.

Another turnover for SWR with under 9:00 to play.

4-0 Wenk scores off a feed from Allie Perez with 8:22 to play.

The Wildcats need a time-out as the Manhasset fans give a standing ovation to the Indians.

At this point the Wildcats simply need a goal to try to get on some kind of a roll. The Indians defense has been phenomenal thus far and has forced the Wildcats into a ton of turnovers. And the Wildcats are 0-4 on free position attempts. Hard to believe.

This is familiar for Manhasset. The Indians haven't allowed more than four goals in an opening half since Farmingdale scored six April 23.

Manhasset wins its first draw with about 8:00 to go.

Anderson has checked back in for SWR.

Megan Markham for Manhasset gets called for a yellow card with 6:42 to play.

4-1. Brosco finally gets SWR on the board with a bounced shot on a free position and it's 4-1 with 6:40 to play.

Manhasset wins the draw. Brosco forces a turnover then assists in front to Jen DeVito and the Wildcats are back. 

4-2. DeVito from Brosco with 6:05 to play.

SWR wins the draw and will try to cut the deficit to one. But a turnover and the Indians control the other way.

5-2 Stephanie Shapiro scores and the Indians go back in front by two with 4:23.

The Wildcats win the draw and turn it over again.

The Wildcats will get possession with under 2:00 to play.

5-3. Anderson scores in front off a feed from DeVito with 1:13 to play.

Big draw coming up. If the Wildcats can get this to one before halftime they'll be feeling OK. But it's the Indians who come away with it. 

Newman forces a turnover with :47.5 to play and gets it out to Brosco. The Wildcats can't score, however, and the Indians get it with under :30 to play. A turnover, though, and DeVito feeds to Rachel Wiederkehr.

5-4 Wiederkehr from DeVito. A huge goal before halftime.

At halftime it's Manhasset 5, SWR 4

To start the second half it'll be Anderson vs. Wenk on the draw. The Wildcats have not led in this game.

Vlahakis will keep Verbeeck in the game to start the second half.

We're waiting for the TV to finish up before the second half begins....

Actually now it's Wiederkehr on the draw. Manhasset controls it.

The Indians turn it over on their first possession.

5-5. DeVito scores off a feed from Brosco and just like that the game is tied. 23:09 to play.

Manhasset wins the draw. Verbeeck makes a save and the Wildcats are rolling the other way.

6-5 SWR. Anderson scores off a feed from DeVito and now the Wildcats have their first lead of the game with 22:01 to play.

Manhasset gets the draw and is 3-0 to start the second. The Indians are looking to answer what's been four straight SWR goals.

6-6 Kerri Fleishhacker scores on a free position to tie the game with 21:02 to play.

SWR wins the draw.

7-6. DeVito takes it herself down the left side and scores to put the Wildcats back ahead with 19:52 to play.

SWR wins the draw and sets up the offense.

A yellow card on Manhasset and it's Maggie Reichenbach with 18:32 to play

SWR turns it over in front and the Indians clear with under 18:00 to play.

Jenny Vlahos loses it to Fleming and the Wildcats clear it.

8-6 Anderson scores down the middle off a feed from Codi Mullen and the Wildcats have their biggest lead of the game with 15:52 to play.

9-6. Wildcats win the draw behind Newman and DeVito charges down the middle and scores her fourth of the game with 15:43 to play. Brosco caught the feed on the draw and passed it to DeVito.

SWR wins another draw.

10-6 Wiederkehr scores on a free position and the Wildcats are dominating the action now with 14:50 to play.

This matches the biggest lead for either team. Since Manhasset led 4-0 it's been SWR outscoring the Indians 10-2.

11-6 Brosco bounced in a shot from about 10 yards and the Wildcats are pulling away now with 13:45 to play.

11-7 The Indians get back on the board with Fleishhacker scoring with 12:06 to play.

12-7 Brosco scores on the free position and it's the Wildcats back in front by five with 9:43 to play.

12-8 Wenk scores from Fleishhacker with 7:03 to play.

With under 4:00 to play the Wildcats are on their way back to Cortland.

I'm headed down to the field for the final minute.

Back with a final score in a bit.

12-8 IS THE FINAL

SWR OVER MANHASSET