Calhoun tops Kennedy for 10th win

Three picture-perfect goals allowed Calhoun to stay perfect this fall and all but secure the Nassau Conference AA-II girls’ soccer title.

Senior Kristina Gandolfo and sophomores Kayla Cappuzzo and Taylor Sipos found the net last Friday as the Lady Colts (10-0-2) knocked off district rival Kennedy, 3-1, in a back-and-forth game featuring 25 shots on goal. Junior Marley Gerber scored for the Lady Cougars (9-3-1.)

“We did a nice job beating them to the ball, our passes were connecting, and our finishes were unbelievable,” Calhoun coach Lori Biscardi said. “Both teams played hard. We started to get a little tired at the end because we had a game yesterday, but we held up pretty good.”

Goalkeepers on both sides were busy throughout and came up big. Kennedy sophomore Nicole Liotta, who has eight shutouts on the year, stopped 14 shots, while Calhoun junior Alissa Battaglia, who has combined with senior Chandler Baltazar for eight shutouts, made 11 saves.

“They have a lot of dangerous players,” Kennedy coach Janine Bizelia said. “You can’t leave anyone open because they’ll take advantage.”

Gerber opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the year less than three minutes into the game when she chipped a shot from 10 yards over Battaglia, who left the goalmouth in an attempt to secure a loose ball. The Lady Cougars led for only three minutes, however, as Cappuzzo converted a pass from Sipos for her fourth of the campaign.

Gandolfo then upped her amazing goal streak to 11 consecutive games when she took a pass from junior Michelle Iacono (11 goals, five assists) and redirected it past Liotta for her 18th goal. Gandolfo, who trails only Elmont’s Kyla Ridley (21) in the county in goals and also has seven assists, has tallied in every game since Calhoun’s season-opening 2-0 victory over Kennedy that saw Cappuzzo and Iacono score.

“Kristina is having a tremendous year,” Biscardi said. “She’s great at getting to the ball and finishing.”