By Joseph Staszewski
Kayra Isdith had already twice failed to score on breakaways as she slipped past the sweeper to get one-on-one with the goalie.
“I started getting frustrated,” the Forest Hills sophomore striker said.
Isdith got the chance to get it right as she broke free from just outside the box in the waning minutes of a tie game. This time, with the keeper charging, she sent a sliding shot into the near corner in the 76th minute.
The goal, her second game-winner of the season, give the Rangers a 2-1 comeback win over rival Long Island City in PSAL Queens A-V girls’ soccer last Thursday afternoon. Isdith couldn’t have felt better.
“Once I made that goal, it was a huge relief,” Isdith said.
The victory is Forest Hills’ first over the Bulldogs in its last four tries, including a 1-0 defeat earlier this season. It keeps the Rangers (6-2-0) in sole possession of first place in the division after finishing second behind LIC the last three years.
“We are playing much better,” Forest Hill Coach Bob Sprance said. “We had a chance to win the first time, but the breaks didn’t go our way.”
Long Island City (5-4-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead on as a 6-yard blast from Geraldine Huisa into the upper 90 off a corner kick in the 65th minute. The Bulldogs had a chance to add to its lead shortly after, but Huisa’s shot hit the post.
Forest Hills got even when star Jacqueline Britto bent a corner kick into the near corner, setting that stage for Isdith.
“I had a great feeling,” Sprance said. “I said, ‘This is her time.’”
Isdith’s heroics helped the Rangers rally for the second time in six days. They also scored two late goals to beat Townsend Harris for the annual Charlie Zink/Kiwanis tournament title Sept. 29. The win also marked the third time in league play Forest Hills has come from behind to win.
“This team never gives up no matter how much time is left,” Sprance said. “We never quit.”
