By Joseph Staszewski
Christ the King’s first diocesan soccer title was a family affair in more ways than one.
The Royals were less than 10 minutes away from being disappointed after Mary Louis’ Therese Boyle buried a shot in the top left corner for the game’s first goal, but CK star Fabiana Rebecca knew that wasn’t the way her team’s season was going to end.
“I had faith,” she said. “I had so much faith in our team all season. We weren’t going out [like that].”
She responded nearly a minute later with the tying score on a run up the right side and first cousin Luna Siracusa popped in the eventual winner from just inside the left corner of the box late in the first overtime. Both were off Christina Viaggio through balls.
“My family,” Rebecca said. “We kicked [butt].”
Her extended family as well.
Sophomore goalie Kristen Drogsler fended off a barrage of Mary Louis shots, including a punch save over the crossbar during a frantic second extra session. A final Deirdre Ray shot settled into her capable hands in the closing seconds and the Royals celebrated a heart-pounding 2-1 win over Mary Louis in the Catholic High School Athletic Association Brooklyn/Queens girls’ soccer final Friday night at Aviator Sports Complex.
It is the first-ever title in its first championship game appearance for Christ the King, ranked No. 7 in the city by the New York Post, and the crowning achievement for the team’s six seniors that helped revitalize the program.
“It is so special,” said Siracusa, a senior. “From the beginning when I came in as a freshman we already were a family. Half of us played together since third-grade. The rest just added on — bigger family. This means so much because it’s history.”
The turn of events left No. 10 Mary Louis (9-3-2), which returned to the league after leaving in 2002 for Nassau/Suffolk, wondering what could have been if not for a momentary lapse in concentration following its goal. Hilltoppers Coach Tom Bruen said after Boyle scored he couldn’t help but think that there was still 9:37 left to play.
“Usually teams are more vulnerable after they score a goal,” he said. “There was a letdown.”
The Hilltoppers and Ray, who severely sprained her ankle in the second half, didn’t let up the pressure in the second overtime, including a ball that hit just off the left post. But Drogsler, who has been a thorn in TMLA’s side all season, made three saves in the final 3:50. She leaped to hit a Ray rocket to the top left corner over the crossbar, collected a Briana Ortega header to the near post off a corner kick and finally another Ray shot from the top of the box.
“It was high,” said Drogsler, who only started playing goalie last season. “I just got a hand on it. I couldn’t really grab it. I just punched it.”
She like everyone else couldn’t have been happier for the seniors, who included Viaggio, Stephanie Abruzzo, Naomi Lakhan and Catherine Pitelli. They suffered an upset loss to Bishop Kearney in the semifinals last season but this was different. CK (11-1-2) was a more focused team all year long.
“I wanted this so bad and I got it,” Siracusa said.
The Royals won their first Brooklyn/Queens regular-season crown thanks to a late-season 2-0 win over Mary Louis after tying in the first meeting. Athletic director Joe Arbitello told the players after that their photo would be up in the gym because of their historic win.
“I’m really proud of where they were and where they came,” Royals Coach John Fayad said.
Where they are going is the CHSAA Class AA state semifinals Saturday where they meet the Buffalo winner at St. Anthony’s at a time to be determined.
But that will come after they enjoy the moment they had strived all season for. Fayad said he wasn’t letting go of the Brooklyn/Queens championship plaque because they don’t come around too often.
Neither does the group of players who won it.
“They are a special group,” Fayad said. “I’m going to miss them dearly.”
