By Dylan Butler
Neither sniper disappointed, as each found the back of the net twice. But it was Tai's supporting cast that helped lead undefeated Bayside to a 5-3 win over the visiting Golden Eagles Thursday.
Bayside, which improved its record to 17-0, advances to the city semifinals to take on No. 4 Far Rockaway (11-2-2) in a game scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
“We all have the ability to finish every opportunity we get,” Tai said. “We all have the ability to make this team perfect.”
A minute into the game Tai led by example, settling a rebound and beating Springfield senior keeper Ricardo Barnes from eight yards out to give the Commodores a 1-0 lead.
Bayside made it 2-0 just seven minutes later when Anthony Pagelli crossed the ball to Alex Beltran, who beat Barnes from five yards out to the near post.
“All season long we've been very active in the offensive third,” said Bayside first-year head coach Joe Corrado. “Our guys move the ball well and make it difficult to defend [us].”
Despite being badly outplayed in the first half, Springfield Gardens (9-6-1) managed to cut Bayside's lead in half in the 19th minute when Jackson's lob from 25 yards out went over the head of Commodores keeper Tallin Lamonaca to make it a 2-1 game. It was the lone shot of the half for the Golden Eagles.
But Bayside struck again in the first half as Gerald Prophete picked up a ball blocked by the Springfield defense in the box and put it past Barnes from five yards out to send the Commodores into the break ahead, 3-1.
Bayside added two more goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to put the game away. Tai beat Barnes to the ball at the top of the box and tipped it to John Tejada, who put the ball into the open net from seven yards out and Tai added a penalty kick after a Golden Eagles hand ball in the box to put the Commodores ahead, 5-1.
To their credit, Springfield Gardens did not quit and made things interesting with two late goals by Jackson and Thaj Davis.
“Respectability,” said Springfield Gardens head coach Clifton Schultz. “We had a great run. I can pull out names of kids who played great. This was only our third loss on the field after three forfeits early in the year.”
Beacon 4, Richmond Hill 0. Nick Goldmark had two goals and Edvin Hot and Harry Drennan added one apiece to lead Beacon (15-0) to its first semifinal berth Thursday. Beacon will take on Monroe (12-2) in a game scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Grover Cleveland 4, Susan Wagner 2. Nick Kreshik netted the hat trick and Carlos Villacres added another goal as the Indians overcame an early 1-0 deficit to a 4-2 win over Wagner in a PSAL 'A' quarterfinal game Friday. No. 4 Cleveland (13-0-2) will take on top-seeded Martin Luther King in the semifinals.
Martin Luther King 5, Newcomers 1. Christopher Richards and Oral Bullen scored two goals apiece to pace the Knights. MLK (19-1) will meet Cleveland in a semifinal game scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Newtown 2, Madison 1. The Pioneers will take on Taft in a semifinal game scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Taft 4, Francis Lewis 3. Issah Kuyateh scored his second goal of the game with one minute left in overtime for the Blue Devils Friday. Frank Sefah and Vincent McKitty also scored for Taft (15-0-1) while Manrique Galeas, Eric Herrera and Wilmer Carvajal found the back of the net for the Patriots (9-4-2).
