Grace Fischer's goal in double OT gives top seed Northport field hockey the Suffolk Class A title
Northport celebrates its double overtime win against Sachem East during the Suffolk Class A field hockey championship on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Manorville. Credit: Dawn McCormick
There was no difference in skill at the Suffolk Class A field hockey championship. The only deciding factor was who wanted it more.
And, with five minutes remaining in double overtime, it was Northport that found the edge.
Grace Fischer brought the ball downfield and, from the left side of the circle, sent a strong push toward the cage. It slipped by two defenders and then the goalkeeper before it hit the boards and put an end to a nearly three-hour contest.
Fischer fell to her knees in ecstasy as the top-seeded Tigers beat No. 2 Sachem East, 1-0, to capture the county title Thursday at Eastport-South Manor.
“I’ve been on the team since I was a freshman and the reason I wanted to make it here is so I could win counties,” Fischer said. “It’s been a big dream of mine and I think about it all the time. Scoring the game-winning goal in a county championship is something I’ve always dreamed about and when that ball hit the backboard I was just full of excitement.”
Northport (18-1) will next face the winner of No. 1 Massapequa/No. 2 Port Washington in the Long Island championship at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Adelphi. Sachem East finished 16-3.
The game lasted a grueling four quarters and a 7-on-7 overtime period before Fischer finished it in the second overtime. Though the teams were very evenly matched, it became clear that Northport began to find some momentum toward the end of regulation. The Tigers earned five penalty corners and kept Sachem East largely out of scoring position.
The Tigers last won a Suffolk title in 2023 and Sachem East has won it for the past two years. Northport coach Samantha Little said coming out on top this season is a testament to her team’s dedication.
“It’s just so amazing,” Little said. “They’ve all been working so hard and every year, it’s always us, Sachem East and Ward Melville. It can be anybody’s game. You never know who’s going to win, so it’s been a battle but these girls just gave it their all.”
Melissa Mendler helped lead Northport’s defense to its 13th shutout of the season. Only a sophomore, she said this experience is beyond compare.
“We knew we just had to stay marked up and not plant our feet,” Mendler said. “It was so exciting. This is my first year coming to counties and it was so amazing.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
