Locarnini scores 2:10 into overtime to beat Lynbrook 1-0 and
seize second place
Morgan Hill – The Live Oak field hockey team solidified its second-place spot in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division with a 1-0 overtime win over Lynbrook at home Tuesday.
Junior defender Sarah Locarnini fired in the game-winning goal two minutes into the extra period to start the celebration for the Acorns.
“That’s really exciting. It’s the first time we’ve ever won in overtime,” Locarnini said. “It’s going to get us really pumped up for our next game and we’ll come out strong after a big win like this.”
For a team that’s been no stranger to close games, it was a familiar scenario to be locked up in a tight battle and the prior experience helped Live Oak in the seven-on-seven overtime frame.
“We know that we have to score first, it’s sudden death, that way we just go (all) out,” Locarnini said.
The Acorns entered the game in a tie for second place with the Vikings at 3-2-1 – both teams trail Los Altos (7-0) – and the win gives Live Oak a full game advantage over Lynbrook at the midway point of the season.
“This was the game, there was so much going into it, so much build up because they were tied for second place. This was big,” Acorns coach Paula Haaser said. “I think that they showed today that they’re ready to go for the league. It’s going to be very positive motivation.”
The contest proved to be a defensive battle throughout, with Locarnini and senior Kelly McDonald doing a great job of preventing the Vikings from attacking the net.
With less than eight minutes left in the game, Live Oak’s Robin Nelson was given a yellow card for excessive pushing and Lynbrook had a man advantage for five minutes.
But the Acorns continued to control the ball, as they did for most of the game, and it stayed scoreless through the end of regulation.
In the overtime, Locarnini was able to break free down the left side and drove the ball toward the goal before firing it in to pick up the win.
“I don’t get a chance to go up too often and I just try to come through when I do get a chance,” Locarnini said.
Live Oak hosted Cupertino on Thursday, hoping to gain some retribution against a team it tied 1-1 in the league opener and it did so in a big way.
The Acorns offense took control in the second half to earn a 4-0 win.
Junior forward Kami Tersini started the scoring at the 27 minute mark of the first half.
She added her second goal of the afternoon 10:15 into the second half and sophomore midfielder Brooke Willis fired in two goals to put the game away.
“They went in there knowing they had to win,” Haaser said.
Junior Varsity
Both Lynbrook and Live Oak fought hard in the junior varsity game Tuesday and the two teams were evenly matched and it ended in a tie.
Nikita Patel played well going up for offense and also dropping back on defense and freshman goalie Margaret Tanner made several key saves.
