Huntington girls lacrosse's Ava Bencivenga scores double-overtime winner in Suffolk Class A semifinal
Huntington beats Northport in double overtime to advance to the Suffolk girls lacrosse Class A final on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Huntington’s Ava Bencivenga hit the right post with five seconds left in regulation. The score was tied, sending the game to overtime, but Bencivenga stayed composed.
“It was no panic, all belief,” Bencivenga said.
In the second overtime, Blue Devils defender Grace Gordon knocked down a pass and picked up the ground ball before moving it upfield. Bencivenga caught the pass and turned on the jets. She went right up the middle in transition, and this time buried an overhand shot into the back of the cage to end it.
“I trust my teammates and I was looking for them, but nobody slid,” Bencivenga said. “So I just went straight down the middle, full head of steam, and just shot it. My teammates were so supportive. It feels amazing.”
Bencivenga’s game-winning goal lifted No. 2 Huntington over No. 3 Northport, 8-7, in double overtime of the Suffolk Class A semifinals at Huntington High School on Tuesday.
Huntington will face No. 1 Ward Melville in the Suffolk Class A championship at 10 a.m. Sunday at Stony Brook.
Huntington found itself down 5-4 with under a minute left in the third quarter. Senior Valentina Puccio connected with her younger sister, Olivia, twice in the final 45 seconds for a pair of goals. The second was a buzzer-beater to give the Blue Devils a 6-5 lead after three quarters.
“This is what we’ve been doing in the backyard since kindergarten and this is what we dreamed of,” said Olivia Puccio, a sophomore. “For us to share these moments, it’s such a great feeling to have this sister bond.”
Northport’s Kate Atkinson ripped a shot top shelf to tie the score at 6 with 7:43 left. 13 seconds later, Olivia Puccio scored her fourth goal of the game to give the Blue Devils a one-goal lead.
With 1:08 left, Riley Cash of Northport delivered a trail check and Atkinson picked up the loose ball as Northport called a timeout.
Cash then navigated the field before finding Cassidy Ferrara for the tying goal with 31.2 seconds left.
“She’s the kid you want to have the ball in big moments,” Northport coach Carol Rainson-Rose said of Cash. “She always gives maximum effort and led our team all year. The kids played their hearts out and we are so proud of their efforts.”
26 seconds later, Bencivenga’s shot rang off the pipe, and Huntington’s Jolie Weinschreider hit a pipe in the first overtime. But in double overtime, it was Bencivenga sending the Blue Devils to their second straight county title appearance.
“I was ecstatic,” said Gordon, who assisted on the game-winner. “Ava has been working so hard and she earned that.”
