By Elio Velez
The final minutes of the girls’ soccer game between Bayside and rival Francis Lewis was typical of the tense atmosphere that always surrounds this division rivalry.
The teams were locked in a familiarly close contest before Bayside broke through with virtually the final kick of the game. Alexa Trontz slipped the ball into the net in the 79th minute to secure a 2-1 victory for the Commodores over host Francis Lewis in both team’s Queens A-V opener last Sunday.
Bayside Coach Maggie Kassimis was both happy and relieved after her team finally capitalized on the type of scoring chance it left unfinished most of the game.
A first half goal from senior Joan Terrado and the last second score from the junior forward off a cross-field pass from junior Christina Psomopoulos inaugurated a new era for the Commodores in the coach’s mind.
“New faces come in,” Kassimis said. “Old faces graduate, but we take pride in that we never give up despite what the circumstances are.”
The notable player missing on the field is DJ Glazer, who scored more than 40 goals last season and helped Bayside clinch a share of the division with Francis Lewis and Cardozo. Glazer, now at Marist, was not only the top scorer, but a player the team heavily leaned on.
The Commodores don’t lack the experience, however, to contend for the division title. Kassimis believed the team jelled around Glazer last year, and players like Trontz and Psomopoulos will take on leadership roles as captains. Kayla Triana shined on the wing and freshman Marcela Aguirre will see plenty of time starting at central midfield.
“It’s a challenge,” Terrado said. “We have to learn to move the ball around, pass to each other and have a lot of teamwork.”
It was a tough loss for a young Francis Lewis team. They rebounded from Terrado’s scoring in the 13th minute to give Bayside a 1-0 lead. The Patriots displayed more energy in the second half. Panagiota Tsourapis leaped between two Bayside defenders and scored in the 48th minute to tie the score at 1-1.
While Coach Jeovani Paredes is excited about his young talent, he is sure there will be growing pains because his starting 11 are filled with underclassmen. Tsourapis, a junior forward who scored 12 goals last season, is the top returning scorer. Fellow juniors Amberley Cabral and Taylor Ferreira are the team captains who must guide four freshmen, including the promising midfielder Sarafina Smith, on the field.
“It’s a learning process,” Paredes said. “I told the girls it’s not the end of the world, it’s a tough loss but it will only get better.”
Bayside and sweeper Chelsy Espinosa hope for the same, but she expects this game to be one of many in one of the toughest divisions in the city.
“It’s our rivals and we lost to them last year in the first game,” Espinosa said. “Playing without DJ and winning this is what makes it more exciting.”
