Jesse Gatto's overtime goal leads Roslyn girls lacrosse over Friends Academy
Jesse Gatto of Roslyn shoots and scores the game winning goal in overtime during a Nassau high school girls lacrosse game against friends Academy on Saturday, May 4, 2024 in Roslyn. Credit: Dawn McCormick
In the most fitting way possible, senior midfielder Jesse Gatto gave Roslyn girls lacrosse senior day a storybook ending.
With under 30 seconds remaining in overtime, Gatto received a pass just right of the net and carried it along the crease and behind the cage. Moments later, Gatto emerged from the left side and picked the top right corner to fire and score with 24.6 seconds left, giving the Bulldogs a 6-5 victory over Friends Academy Saturday afternoon.
Though not a typical X player, Gatto manned the spot on Thursday against Mineola and scored four goals. That recent success while playing from behind the cage gave her the confidence she needed when Saturday's moment came.
“This game, I saw I had the opportunity and I just went for it,” Gatto said. “I went completely dark inside and I just shot it and it went in, and it feels great.”
Gatto also picked up Roslyn’s only assist towards the end of the third quarter when she dragged defenders with her through the fan, leaving fellow senior midfielder Casey Rhine wide open in the left alley. Gatto fed Rhine perfectly, allowing her to rip one into the back of the net and tie the score at 4.
Roslyn (4-9) never led in regulation, allowing the game’s first goal early in the first quarter and playing catch-up for the rest of the afternoon. However, the team rallied to tie it on four separate occasions.
Junior goalkeeper Ashley Borg was a major source of Roslyn’s resiliency, as she made eight saves, six of which came after halftime. With 28 seconds left in regulation, Borg stopped a low shot to her left and set up a clear to save the Bulldogs from defeat.
“The end of the fourth quarter came and I said, ‘Ashley, thank you for keeping us in this game',” Roslyn coach Lauren Lopez said. “We don’t get to go into overtime if she doesn’t have that big save. Honestly, she’s come up big when we’ve needed her to.”
Junior midfielder Gia Patane led Roslyn’s attack with two goals, including the final equalizer with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter.
Gatto said Saturday’s come-from-behind win was emblematic of her team’s character.
“When it comes down to it, we make it really happen," she said. "We all have that fierceness in us, and when we want it, we’re going to get it.”
Gabbie Hudak made nine stops for Friends Academy (1-12), including a free-position save on the last play of regulation.
