By Dylan Butler
Jaclyn Miccio is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
The star of the Townsend Harris girls’ soccer team is one of the top players in the city, but the Bayside native has spent the better part of her junior and senior seasons trying to get back into playing shape.
Last year it was a sprained ankle that kept Miccio sidelined for much of the season, and this year it is abdominal surgery that kept her off the field for three weeks.
Monday’s 3-0 win at Bayside and just about every other league game until the postseason will serve the same purpose for Miccio: a strenuous practice until the playoffs come around when the Syracuse-bound center midfielder hopes she finally will be 100 percent healthy.
“It is a little frustrating, but instead of sulking I have to suck it up and work harder,” Miccio said. “It’s frustrating to think, ‘where would I have been if I didn’t miss those three weeks,’ but what are you going to do.”
As Miccio continues to rehabilitate, her role on Townsend Harris (10-1 Queens A) is different. Although still the object of double and triple teams whenever she touches the ball, Miccio tries to get her teammates involved more.
As a result, players such as Kathryn Dubowski and Stephanie Inwald are getting more and more scoring chances and — as was the case in the first half against Bayside — are cashing in on those opportunities. Their goals gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
“It’s hard for me to dribble (down) the whole field when I’m not in shape,” she said. “That’s why I’ve been distributing the ball more. I’m acting (as) more of a midfield player vs. a more offensive player. I have spurts but I still get tired.”
One of those spurts led to her goal in the 62nd minute when she was freed by some crisp passing through the midfield and chipped the ball over Bayside keeper Elizabeth Mardones from 16 yards out.
Despite the three-goal loss, there is a silver lining for Bayside (4-7 Queens A), a team that fields just one senior, Kristin Allocco. Chelsea Johnson and Danielle Stanley made some great runs through midfield, and Vanessa D’Alessandro was solid defensively for the Commodores.
“Compared to last year, they’re definitely improved,” Dubowski said of Bayside. “They have a lot of potential, as it showed. In the beginning I think we really didn’t have that much control over the game, but once we kind of woke up and saw we needed to, we finally woke up.”
Johnson had Bayside’s best scoring chance in the 77th minute, but her shot rang off the near post and Allocco headed the rebound off the crossbar.
“I have 10 new players on the team this year, so it looks great for next year and the year after,” said Bayside coach Joe Corrado. “This year we just have to keep them motivated. There really hasn’t been a bad blowout.”
Francis Lewis 6, Richmond Hill 0. Jessica Molina and Caroline Verna scored two goals apiece for Francis Lewis (9-2-1, 7-1-1 Queens A).
Jamaica 4, Springfield Gardens 0. Rocio Hernandez scored two goals for Jamaica (8-2-1, 7-2-1 Queens B-I).
Cardozo 3, Bryant 1. Carolyn Durniak, Kristen Hausdorf and Vivian James scored for Cardozo (11-1, 11-0 Queens A).
Newtown 6, Flushing 0. Alba Carrasquero’s hat trick led Newtown (3-6-1 Queens A).
Edison 3, Van Buren 0. After a scoreless first half, Catia Santos, Zujenis Pico and Anika Charles scored in the second half for Edison (8-2-4, 4-2-4 Queens B-I).
Newcomers 2, John Bowne 0. Victoria Pizzorno and Jenny Garcia scored second-half goals for Newcomers (8-1-1, 7-1 Queens B-II).
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
