The GU-17 Auburndale Alliance — essentially a combination of two local teams, Auburndale Rapid Fire & Bayside Queens — won a hard-fought contest at the LIJSL soccer park in the Waldbaums semifinals. They outplayed the New Hyde Park Pantheret
The NHP team had two highly-skilled forwards who made defender Catherine Galiano’s defensive maneuvers especially difficult. Susan O’Connell's persistence and drive resulted in a run down the middle, midway through the first half, to score a beautifully placed goal from outside the 18-yard line.
With several precision passes and plenty of attempts on goal, midfielders Filipa Petruccelli, Jaclyn Miccio, Andrea Borelli and forwards Crystal Pinzon and Kristen Berrios were unrelenting. Berrios also made several explosive attempts on 50/50 balls.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, New Hyde Park almost scored on a loose ball inside the box. More determined than ever to keep the ball out of Auburndale’s half, defenders Courtney Barriere and Allison Cavagnaro cleared dangerously played balls.
Kerry Shouldis aggressively fought off opponents as she dribbled down the right side, resulting in an effective cross over the penalty box to Emily Andricosky, who scored Auburndale’s second goal.
Cheryl Meaney’s skilled ball trappings and footwork made for many possessions and good distribution from the midfield. But if not for keeper Emily Lipsky’s reading of the game, placing her in just the right spot to deny NHP from scoring, the game might have ended differently. Late in the game, Lipsky made two spectacular diving saves. Unfortunately, alternate keeper Helen Zelman, injured herself during warm-up and was unable to play.
In the waning minutes of the game, not satisfied with a two-goal advantage, Kaitlin Purcell, Christine Lettieri and Elizabeth Niedbala played as if it were the opening minutes of the game.
Auburndale Head Coach Giulio Petruccelli, standing in for Dennis James, substituted and motivated players who were wearing down from the exhaustive competition. The New Hyde Park Pantherettes were gracious in their loss and had much to be proud of. It had been a well-played and exciting game to watch.
