Redding's Overtime Header Clinches Class A Title for Sayville

Dakota Edwards quickly lined up a corner kick with just seconds remaining in a 15-minute golden-goal overtime period. Both No. 1 Sayville and No.2 John Glenn had failed to score through 80 minutes of regulation and more than 14 minutes of overtime before Edwards unleashed on yet another corner opportunity.

The ball sailed past John Glenn keeper Kevin Flores as Sayville's Travis Redding snuck around his defender, dove, and headed the ball into the back left corner of the net to clinch a 1-0 win for the Golden Flashes in the Suffolk County Class A title game.

"It was a perfect ball," Redding said. "The goalie thought it was going near post and it just kept rising and went right over his head. I slipped by my man, snuck right in there and dove-headed it in."

The Golden Flashes, who pride themselves on defense and let up just three goals all , matched up against a Glenn team that allowed just six goals. With those numbers in mind, it was no surprise that regulation play ended in a scoreless tie.

"We just play such great defense and our goalkeeping tonight was outstanding," head coach Val Winter said. "Our sweeper (Jared VanBrunt) is outrageous too."

VanBrunt, Chris Siracusa and the rest of the defense shut down Glenn as senior keeper Dan Scheck made save after save in net, including a game-saver in overtime, for Sayville's 17th shutout of the season.

"In the first half they pressured us a lot," Scheck said. "They were beating us to balls and I was able to make some saves. Second half they started slowing down and we started picking it up but I knew once they came down I was going to have to make a big save and I did."

The Golden Flashes last won counties in 2007 when Scheck was a freshman reserve and Edwards was still in middle school, so the win was special for both players.

"It was an amazing feeling because I've never won something like this," Edwards said. "It's just a great feeling…I'm speechless."

"It feels so great," Scheck added. "I remember back in 2007 when we won it was a great feeling but now it's even better to be playing and win."

After being pressured hard in the first half, the Golden Flashes looked better in the second half and then put shot after shot on Flores in overtime before Redding's header finally found the back of the net.

"I can't describe the feeling," Winter said. "I'm so happy. We had a poor first half and sorted some things out at halftime and I thought we controlled play in the second half and they just worked so hard."

"It feels tremendous," Redding added. "We had so many shots that were deflected just a foot wide of the goal and we finally got one on net and it went in."

Sayville now moves on to the Long Island Championships with a matchup against South Side on Sunday, Nov. 14.

"We're going to prepare the same way we always prepare," Redding said. "Just practice hard everyday and remain confident."