LAGRANGEVILLE — The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake field hockey team left no room for question.
Not only did they secure a state championship on Sunday, but they also wrapped up an impeccable season. The Spartans triumphed over Section 1’s Lakeland with a 3-0 victory at Arlington High School, clinching the Class B state title and a flawless 21-0 season record.
“The joy of rushing to our goalie after every game this postseason, because we won, and the excitement of celebrating together, it’s something unique about our team,” expressed Burnt Hills senior Lilly Morse. “We couldn’t have dreamt of a better ending.”
Grace Kogut initiated the scoring for Burnt Hills in the first quarter, on a penalty corner, with the ball coming from Lily Mastrella.
Mastrella added two more goals for the Spartans, in the second and third quarters, to help build the lead. The second-quarter goal came on a corner, on an assist from Katie Lansley; Mastrella scored her second goal in freeplace.
“We play for our seniors, especially this year we really wanted to make a statement,” said Mastrella, a junior. “Being undefeated and winning states is truly surreal.”
“This is a unique group of kids, with immense talent,” said Burnt Hills head coach Kelly Vrooman. “Every single player contributed to this. We’re a team, where every single player gelled together. They were able to communicate, pass and play with confidence.”
The euphoria of winning a state title is accompanied by the bittersweet realization of the season ending, and for the team’s six seniors, their high school field hockey career.
“I’ve been playing with these seniors since I was in first grade, so it’s a poignant moment to win it, and the tears of joy, and the tears of sadness of them leaving,” Mastrella said. “It’s a whirlwind of emotions, and it’s truly exhilarating.”
Sunday’s victory marked the third state title in the history of the field hockey program. The first came in 1987, when Kelly Vrooman was a player. Many of the Spartans on this year’s roster were a part of the last state title run in 2021.
“There’s nothing comparable. Coming back [after winning in 2021], we lost in sectionals [in 2022] and then we made it back to states last year,” Morse said of the journey back to the top. “Just taking that final step this year, to finally be state champions again, it’s [incredible].”
“I think it was the ideal way to conclude,” said senior Allie O’Rourke. “It was like bookends, winning my first season and my last season.”
Mastrella was also a part of both the 2021 and 2024 state championship teams.
“It’s an amazing feeling. When I was in eighth grade, it was like observing the other girls and learning from them,” she said. “It’s nice to be the senior player now, making the crucial things happen.”
Taylor Loria, a seventh-grader, was in elementary school in 2021. This time around, she got to be a part of the action.
“I just remember being at the table and watching everyone play,” said Loria, who was a statistician on the 2021 team. “As much fun as it was to watch, it’s so much more fun to actually be on the field contributing to the win.”
The seventh-grader isn’t just on the roster, but a key contributor.
“I was really excited at the beginning of the season because it was just a really good opportunity to play with older kids, and grow and learn,” Loria said. “I’ve been growing up in this program for so long, it’s such a great opportunity to get this far, and especially to be undefeated for the entire season.”
Throughout Burnt Hills’ perfect season, it won the Suburban Council with a 14-0 league record. The Spartans scored 120 goals, and allowed just four.
Two of the goals Burnt Hills allowed came at a national tournament in Philadelphia, and were scored by teams from New Jersey and Maryland. Bethlehem was responsible for the other two goals scored against the Spartans.
Since the postseason began, the Spartans outscored opponents 18-0 in five victories. After defeating South Glens Falls 3-0 in the Section 2 Class B championship, Burnt Hills topped Vestal 2-0 in the regional championship. Vestal ended the Spartans season in the state semifinals last year.
Burnt Hills triumphed over Garden City 3-0 on Saturday in the state semifinals.
Throughout the state tournament, even when opponents were able to gain possession, the Spartan defense was a fortress, as goalie KK Fish was only tested once in three games.
“We practice it over and over again, that we start from the back and go forward,” Vrooman said of the defense. “It’s challenging to be a defender. You have to teach everyone how to play good defense, and you can’t win big games without it.”
Even though the clock had ticked down on the final game of the season, the season isn’t officially over until the team bus arrives back at Burnt Hills.
“We’re still field hockey until we get off this bus,” said O’Rourke.
“It’s going to be a celebration,” Addisyn Knapik said of the bus ride. “A lot of singing, a lot of crying and a lot of eating — really the three things that we do.”
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 1 1 1 0 — 3
Lakeland 0 0 0 0 — 0
BH-BL scoring: Kogut 1-0; Mastrella 2-1; K. Lansley 0-1. Lakeland scoring: None. Goalies: BH-BL, Fish, 1 save. Lakeland, Yazzeth, 10 saves.
Great job by the team on their flawless season and state championship win! #Agree