Calhoun nipped in thrilling final

Calhoun overcame second-half deficits in both the semifinal and championship rounds of the Nassau Class AA girls’ soccer playoffs, but a well-placed shot by Massapequa’s Rosie DiMartino in the 54th minute ended the Lady Colts title hopes, 3-2, on Nov. 12, at Cold Spring Harbor High School.

Faced with their third game in three days, Calhoun (10-5-3 overall) fell behind by two goals at halftime against the Lady Chiefs, but things changed quickly after intermission.

“We talked with them at halftime,” coach Lori Biscardi said of her team, which advanced to the finals for the second consecutive season and had a five-game winning streak entering the game. “We told them they had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” she added. “We made a few changes to get more offensive.”

It didn’t take long for the changes to make a difference, either, as senior Michelle Iacono coverted a loose ball inside the 18-yard line into a score just 52 seconds into the second-half. Though Massapequa goalie Emmalee Meyer made the save, she did so behind the goal line. “It’s a good thing we have side refs in the playoffs,” Biscardi said, noting the fact that it was the side judge who initially signaled that it was a goal.

Less than five minutes later, Iacono assisted on a goal by junior Taylor Sipos and it was starting to look as if Calhoun may make a second-half comeback for the second consecutive day. Then DiMartino struck with her second goal of the game, and the Lady Colts simply couldn’t muster another offensive push. “It was a great play by DiMartino,” Biscardi said.

One day earlier, the Lady Colts won a 2-1 overtime thriller against No. 2 Farmingdale in the semifinals. Iacono, who accounted for both goals off feeds by junior Jessica Foley, scored the game-winner three minutes into overtime. “In the quarterfinals last year, it was the same thing,” Biscardi said. “We were down 1-0 and won 2-1 in overtime. Once we got the momentum [we kept it].”

Senior goalkeeper Alissa Battaglia stopped an incredible 25 shots in the win, and turned in her best performance of the season according to Biscardi. “Her reflexes are so quick,” Biscardi said. “She smart and knows when to come out, she never stops [communicating] and she reads the game so well.”

Battaglia, along with Iacono, who had eight goals during the regular season and four more with three assists in the three playoff games, and junior Kayla Capuzzo, the conference leader in assists (six) all earned All-County honors. Sipos and Foley were named All-Class AA players, while senior Sara Bey, a four-year varsity player, was named a Scholar Athlete Award winner.

The Lady Colts opened postseason action with a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Kennedy, 3-2, on Nov. 10 with Iacono scoring twice and her sister, Taylor Iacono, a freshman, adding one.