Its 8-0 clobbering of Leon M. Goldstein High in the first round of the PSAL ‘B’ playoffs on May 21 was impressive…
By Joseph Manniello
To say that the Arts & Business girls’ soccer team has had an effortless time dusting off opponents this season would be an understatement.
Its 8-0 clobbering of Leon M. Goldstein High in the first round of the PSAL ‘B’ playoffs on May 21 was impressive as was its 2-0 quarterfinal victory over third-seeded Edison last Thursday at Tilden High in Brooklyn.
But its tear during the regular season was downright amazing.
After losing its season opener to Long Island City, 3-0, the Bulls responded with a 9-1 pounding of Beach Channel a day later. Since then, they have scored 50 unanswered goals in 14 consecutive wins.
The next test for top-seeded Arts & Business (14-1) will come Thursday at Forest Hills, a semifinal slate that will pit them against Julia Richman, a 5-0 winner over Newcomers.
The winner plays for the ‘B’ city championship Saturday at St. John’s University.
Playing with an intense amount of pressure on the offensive end, especially in the second half, the Bulls could have easily beaten Edison by one of its usual lopsided scores.
After junior Amparo Garcia was fouled inside the box, the Bulls were awarded a free kick 34 minutes into the game.
Coach Keith Horan noted afterwards how he had recently switched things up in these situations. Free kicks inside 30 yards would now be taken by senior striker Jackie Roche.
“She’s vicious,” he said. “She can bend balls.”
Horan looked like a genius as the shot proved to be the game-winner. Roche’s blast, which found a home in the right corner of the net after sneaking by the outstretched arms of Inventors’ goalkeeper Nancy Del Cid Lemu, whose 4-foot-9 stature (Edison coach Frank DeNunzio referred to her as “a little sparkplug in net”) would keep her off most roller coasters.
Considering the Bulls ability to dent the scoreboard in a hurry, Thomas Edison (9-4-2) had to be pleased with being down only 1-0 at intermission.
Losing its star player, junior forward Anika Charles to a leg injury midway through the match made the task at hand seem even more impossible, even though DeNunzio wasn’t concerned with the Bulls’ impressive numbers this season.
“I wasn’t worried about stats. At this point (the playoffs), it’s an even game,” he said. “I think we just made a couple of errors.”
Both teams had chances to take control of the game early on, but neither could convert. Bulls goalkeeper Ewelina Krzysztofowice made two huge saves to preserve the 0-0 tie.
But after the break, the ball couldn’t find its way toward Krzysztofowice. Her teammates did nothing but pressure the Inventors, resulting in countless scoring opportunities.
“Our offense is really strong and if you just keep pressuring the ball,” Roche said, “you’re bound to get it in the back of the net.”
That was the case in the 66th minute as Garcia added an insurance goal.
Before a post-game speech, Horan’s players drenched him with a container and several cups of water. With the way he has his team playing, it’s about time someone cooled him down.
Julia Richman 5, Newcomers 0. Ana Alban scored twice for JREC (9-2-1), which recorded its eighth shutout of the season at Tilden last Thursday. Louisa Granger, Micaell Baum-Tuccillo, and Natasha Alexander all added a goal apiece. Newcomers finishes at 6-6-2.
Lab Museum 1, Jamaica 1 (Lab Museum advances in penalty kicks). Rocio Hernandez gave Jamaica an early 1-0 lead but Beth Kenworthy tied it for Lab Museum, which advances to the PSAL ‘B’ semifinals after edging Jamaica 5-4 in penalty kicks last Thursday at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
McKee/Staten Island Tech 4, Francis Lewis 0. Dana Conroy and Melissa Cimilluca each had a goal and an assist to lift McKee/Staten Island Tech (14-1-3) in an ‘A’ quarterfinal game May 26. Francis Lewis finishes at 15-2-1.
Reach contributing writer Joseph Manniello by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
