The Summit girls’ lacrosse program has produced numerous championships over the years, including the state final in 1999 – pre TOC – and four consecutive state titles the last four seasons, becoming only the second New Jersey team to accomplish that feat.
However, Saturday’s thrilling extra session victory on the final day of the 2016 season has to rank as the No. 1 Hilltopper victory of all time.
After getting their hearts broken in the past two Tournament of Champions championship games, the Summit Hilltoppers came out on top – this time displaying tears of joy.
Top-seeded Summit – in double overtime on a goal by senior Callie Humphrey – defeated second-seeded Ridgewood 11-10 to capture the 2016 TOC crown at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium in Union.
Summit lost to South Jersey power Moorestown 8-6 in the 2014 final at Bridgewater-Raritan – a game in which the Hilltoppers led 5-3 at halftime – and was then defeated by in-town arch rival Oak Knoll 11-10 in the 2015 final at Kean.
Three years ago, Summit was defeated by Shawnee 13-12 in overtime in the semifinals at Monmouth University.
The euphoria of a close victory to finally win the championship Saturday should outweigh the heartbreak of the three previous very slim defeats.
It was the third straight time Summit defeated Ridgewood by one goal, including in the regular season this year 9-8 and in last year’s TOC semifinals 6-5.
Summit just completed its best four-year run in program history, sparked by standout senior Sara Szynal, who will continue playing at Northwestern.
Summit went a combined 83-13 (.865), including 1-0 in the Group 3 final, 3-0 in the Group 2 final, 4-3 in the TOC and 1-2 in three TOC finals.
This year, Summit finishes as the top-ranked team in New Jersey and with a 13-game winning streak after its only loss, which was to an out-of-state team from Virginia.
Humphrey, who wears No. 21, scored the game’s 21st and final goal during the three-minute double overtime period.
Ridgewood’s Lillie Kloak tied the game at 10-10 with a goal with just 18 seconds remaining in regulation.
Syznal’s game-leading fifth goal put Summit ahead 10-9 with 5:34 left in the second half.
Ridgewood led 6-3 at intermission and was then ahead 10-7 lead with 12 minutes remaining.
From there, Humphrey, Samantha Forsyth and Catherine Cordrey scored to even the game at 10-10.
Humphrey finished with three goals, Cordrey two and two assists and Forsyth one.
For Ridgewood, Alex Absey, Chelsea Trattner and Kloak had two goals, while Katie Bourque, Hannah Cermak, Cat Roxas and Claire Smesko had one.
Summit goalie Maddie Collins made four saves and Ridgewood’s Casey Cole five.
A good cast is worth repeating:
Summit girls’ lacrosse, No. 1 in New Jersey for 2016:
13-Kaleigh Brennan, sophomore
3-Katia Carnevale, freshman
52-Maddie Collins, junior
15-Catherine Cordrey, senior
28-Mary Fischetti, senior
26-Samantha Forsyth, senior
6-Shannon Groskoph, junior
18-Audrey Hannigan, junior
8-Julia Harkins, senior
21-Callie Humphrey, senior
10-Helen Johnson, sophomore
4-Emily Kalin, senior
6-Olivia Kull, junior
50-Catherine Maloney, sophomore
55-Amy Martino, sophomore
23-Kathleen Morano, senior
14-Maggie Moriarty, senior
42-Delaney O’Dowd, junior
20-Caitlin Osmulski, senior
9-Emily Paytas, sophomore
10-Julia Persche, senior
12-Teia Ross, senior
2-Ava Spotts, sophomore
27-Stella Spotts, junior
34-Ceclily Stabler, junior
33-Kaitlin Stewart, senior
22-Morgan Strabley, senior
87-Julia Szynal, freshman
25-Sara Szynal, senior
77-Katherine Tully, freshman
1-Isabel Zachara, senior
Head coach: Mike Walsh
SUMMIT GIRLS’ LACROSSE BEST 4-YEAR RUN:
2016: (24-1)
Group 3 state champions
Group 3 final: Summit 15, Moorestown 6 – at Kean
Tournament of Champions:
Semifinals: Summit 10, Rumson-Fair Haven 4 – at Monmouth
Final: Summit 11, Ridgewood 10 (2OT) – at Kean
2015: (20-5)
Group 2 state champions
Group 2 final: Summit 12, Rumson-Fair Haven 5 – at Kean
Tournament of Champions:
Semifinals: Summit 6, Ridgewood 5 – at Monmouth
Final: Oak Knoll 11, Summit 10 – at Kean
2014: (21-2)
Group 2 state champions
Group 2 final: Summit 15, Red Bank Catholic 3 – at Kean
Tournament of Champions:
Semifinals: Summit 11, Mountain Lakes 9 – at Monmouth
Final: Moorestown 8, Summit 6 – at Bridgewater-Raritan
2013: (18-5)
Group 2 state champions
Group 2 final: Summit 16, Allentown 11 – at Kean
Tournament of Champions:
Semifinals: Shawnee 13, Summit 12 (OT) – at Monmouth