By Joseph Staszewski
Christ the King’s first girls’ soccer diocesan title brought a visible outpouring of emotion after the final whistle last season. The Royals’ second-straight crown Monday brought with it a more reserved, but deeper satisfaction because of the program’s growth and the fact that a different group of players started this time around.
“We do have a lot of talent, but we lost players and we are still doing what we do,” CK Coach John Fayad said. “That tells you the program is doing well.”
Much of that young talent was on display again in the Royals’ 2-0 win over Mary Louis in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Class AA girls’ soccer final at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn. Freshman star Medina Mulic had a goal and an assist and classmate Sarah Nolan added a goal.
“It was as nice as last year,” Fayad said.
Mulic’s score, a running header in the box to the near pass off a Francesca Giglio free kick, broke some jitters for CK in the 43rd minute. Mary Louis keeper Claire Loredan made five brilliant first-half saves and one right after the break before the Royals finally broke through to take a 1-0 lead.
“Once we scored one, we knew from the last time we versed them they have less confidence and we build up our confidence,” Mulic said.
It was the third time in three meetings with TMLA (9-4-1) that the Royals scored in the opening minutes of the second half. CK (16-0-0) has outscored them 6-0 in the games, thanks to a defense led by Cathy Lume and Destiny Marino. Mary Louis Coach Tom Bruen called Loredan an elite keeper, but knew it would take more than her to quell the Royals after the break.
“I said don’t come out flat,” he said. “They are going to reorganize. They are going to come out hard and they did.”
Christ the King added a second goal in the 52nd minute when Nolan ran on to Mulic through a ball and hammered it home to the right post to make it 2-0. The Hilltoppers had two quality chances. Eva Scazzero had a hard shot saved midway through the first half and CK keeper Kristen Drogsler stoned Therese Boyle just after Nolan’s goal.
The Royals will try to write another chapter in its history-making seasons as it tries to reach its first state final. They face Archdiocesan champion Notre Dame Academy in semifinals 4:30 p.m. Thursday back at Aviator. It’s another chance for them to prove where the program is.
“It shows that we weren’t lucky last year,” Lume said. “We are starting to get it together and taking it seriously.”
