Long Island girls soccer champion Sachem East suffers OT loss in Southeast Regional Class AAA final

NYACK — Sachem East girls soccer was ahead of schedule.

With just one senior on the roster, the young team captured a Long Island title, but the journey came to a close.

Its run ended Saturday night with a 1-0 overtime loss to Albertus Magnus of Section I in the Southeast Regional Class AAA final at Nyack High School.

“It was always going to be an uphill battle playing a private prep school with the reputation of Albertus Magnus,” Sachem East coach Glen Monsen said. “I’m really proud of the way our girls battled and never quit.”

“We’re Long Island champions, and that can never be taken away from us,” he added.

Albertus Magnus dominated possession in the first half. But the scoreboard didn’t change. Although the Falcons spent much of the half in Sachem East’s end of the field, they kept running into two problems: defender Aaliyah Hollis and goalkeeper Paige Seaman.

Seaman recorded a save in the fourth minute, and Hollis cleared the ball before a rebound opportunity could develop. Seaman finished the first half with five saves, including a diving stop in the 29th minute. Hollis, just a sophomore, kept blocking passes and shutting down the middle of the field as the game headed toward halftime.

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: State AAA girls soccer regional final — Sachem East vs. Albertus Magnus

“I just did it for Aubree the whole time,” Hollis said of senior captain Aubree Ellis. “I was just trying to make sure we had the best chance to win.”

Sachem East made adjustments at halftime and began generating more offense.

“We made some adjustments that allowed us to have some more players in the midfield and control a little more of the possession,” Monsen said. “And I think we became more dangerous as a result.”

Seaman and Hollis continued to lead the way and kept Albertus Magnus off the scoreboard in the second half, sending the scoreless game to overtime.

Sachem East generated a corner kick opportunity in overtime but couldn’t capitalize.

With 10:59 remaining in overtime, sophomore Sophia Rohrbacher scored the winner to give Albertus Magnus the regional title.

Seaman finished with nine saves and had recorded shutouts in the county title and Long Island championship game leading up to this regional final.

“Winning a Long Island championship was always something to be proud of and cherish forever,” Seaman said. “And I’m so happy I was able to do it with this group of girls.”

Sachem East returns everyone except Ellis. Her teammates had dedicated the season to their lone senior, who leaves with a Long Island title.

“It just shows how much they cared for me and how much of a family this team was,” Ellis said.

Monsen said the ending wouldn’t diminish what his team accomplished.

“This season was very special,” he said. “These girls will have memories of it for the rest of their lives.”