Northport field hockey shuts out Ward Melville in battle of Suffolk powerhouses
Katie Beisler of Northport jumps in excitement after scoring a goal in the third quarter of a Suffolk Division I matchup against Ward Melville on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 in East Setauket. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
The last time the Northport field hockey team beat Ward Melville, it advanced to the 2023 Class A state semifinal. The following two years, Ward Melville ended Northport’s season in the Suffolk County playoffs.
This time around, the Tigers want to return to that championship feeling. Northport took down the Patriots, 3-0, on the road in a Suffolk I game Tuesday night. Katie Beisler, Julianna Tietjen and Megan Heffernan scored.
Northport coach Samantha Little said this particular victory has a bit more fire behind it.
“So many of my girls were also starters last season, and now they’re coming back to play on the same field we lost our playoff game on,” Little said. “They were ready. They needed to get this done, and they did.”
The first half of the game was a defensive battle. Though Northport dominated possession time, it didn’t find the back of the cage until the third quarter.
With 6:34 remaining in the frame, Northport called a timeout before taking a penalty corner. When the Tigers retook the field, the corner unfolded exactly as they drew it up. From the stroke line, Abby Roslund sent the ball to the left post, where Beisler was waiting to deflect it in.
“We took some deep breaths in that moment that really calmed and reset our minds,” Beisler said. “Getting that first goal just made us want to win more and more. We did not want [Ward Melville] getting the ball.”
Less than five minutes later, Northport (4-0) fed off the momentum.
On a fast break play, Scarlett Hill found Tietjen in open space on the left side of the circle. With the reverse side of her stick, Tietjen flicked the ball into the cage to make it 2-0. With 5:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Roslund sent a crossfield pass to Heffernan on the left post, scoring the third and final goal.
“The last time I remember beating this team was in counties my freshman year,” Tietjen said. “To be able to come here and beat them on the road as a senior is a special feeling. We all work so hard and it really came together in this game.”
Charlotte DeLeo made one save for Northport. Kaden DeHoyas made seven saves for Ward Melville (3-1).
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.
