Jdahim's three goals just the trick for LIC

Odd things seem to happen to Long Island City around playoff time.
Two years ago, just prior to the PSAL's playoff seeding meeting, it was ruled a fifth-year senior was on the active roster, forcing the undefeated Bulldogs to forfeit all their games, although he rarely saw the field. Last October, after a late-season lost to Aviation cost LIC the division, they were upset in the opening round by Truman; Demetrious Touros, their outstanding goalkeeper, allowed four goals in a shoddy performance.
Then came Monday afternoon, when miscommunication between the school's principal and athletic department caused the Bulldogs to wait close to two hours for their first round playoff game against Brooklyn Tech.
&#8220Maybe it's just me,” Touros said, &#8220but I think this school is cursed.”
However, the ghosts of seasons' past would not overwhelm the Bulldogs on the eve of Halloween once again, thanks to Zakariah Jdahim. The senior striker picked an apropos moment to notch his first hat trick of the season, prodding the Bulldogs past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in four years, 3-1, over Brooklyn Tech. The strikes were Jdahim's first goals in three weeks.
&#8220It's a nice feeling,” LIC Coach Fernando Villegas said. &#8220It's always good to advance.”
&#8220I'm very proud of the team,” Jdahim added. &#8220I'm very happy about it. It feels good, because now that we won this game, we have another game [later this week].”
That match up will likely begin on time, but it won't be any ordinary opponent. The Bulldogs (8-3-2) will face the city's top seed, and the winner of eight of the last nine PSAL titles, Martin Luther King Jr.
&#8220We're going to try to have fun,” Villegas said. &#8220We know what we have. It's going to be a tough game. It's not going to be easy.”
LIC got out of classes early, and arrived at the field at 2 p.m. sharp. Their opponent, Brooklyn Tech, however, didn't get there until approximately 3:38 p.m.
Apparently, the two principals had worked out an agreement to move the game back an hour, from 2:30 to 3:30. Unfortunately, neither the LIC coach, Fernando Villegas, nor athletic director Penny Bellas were informed. Because the game finally began at 3:50, less than half an hour after the revised scheduled time, there was no forfeit.
&#8220Half of us didn't even know the game would still be played,” Touros said. &#8220We were messing around, shooting the ball, running around the whole time. When the game started, we were all dead already. I didn't think that was fair at all.”
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs prevailed, giving themselves a chance to be giant killers.