For the third consecutive year Holy Child and Rye Country Day School met in the Independent schools state title game. Holy Child won the title in 2006 and last year RCDS was the champ. Holy Child won its second state championship, 2-1 in penalty strokes.

The teams traded goals during regulation with RCDS sophomore Christine Cunningham scoring in the first half, then Caroline Gray answered back in the second half for Holy Child.

Holy Child converted its first three strokes, with Charlotte Tierney clinching the state title on the third stroke.

Congratulations to Holy Child and RCDS for having excellent seasons. Both teams were hard-hit by graduation, but there they were, playing for the state title in what has become an annual event. Prior to the season, I’ve said it three straight years that Holy Child and RCDS will play for the state crown and I have actually been right.

Both defenses and the respective goalies, RCDS’ Kate Moelis and Holy Child’s Carrigan Henderson, were excellent. Whether in regulation or overtime, the goalies came up with the big saves and the respective defenses made excellent stops.

Congratulations to the coaching tandem of Holy Child head coach Barbara Lorys and assistant coach Cheryl O’Shea. The life-long friends and former Rye Neck standouts have been at Holy Child five years. During this time, the tandem has transformed a struggling program into an perennial elite among private and Catholic schools and won two state titles. Lorys and O’Shea work so well together and the players love them. They don’t yell or scream at their players should one make a mistake. Instead, either or both will take the player aside and explain what needs to be done.

Two other former Rye Neck players are the same way in regards to their respective players, Mamaroneck assistant coach Tricia Miller, O’Shea’s sister, and Ursuline’s April Clapp.