MacArthur advances past VSN

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The MacArthur girls soccer team generated no shots on goal for the fist 30 minutes of last Saturday’s Nassau Class A first round playoff game against Valley Stream North before taking over the match in the blink of an eye en route to a 3-0 victory.

Sophomore Marisa Misuraca scored a penalty kick goal with just under 10 minutes left in the first half and less than a minute later senior Kaitlyn Politi struck a shot into the far left corner of the net for a 2-0 advantage. The two quick tallies proved to be all MacArthur would need on a cold blustery afternoon to advance to the quarterfinals against top-seeded South Side on Oct. 26.

“The best part about getting the lead was we were able to settle down and play our style,” MacArthur coach Jamie San Filippo said. “That first goal really set the tone 

Freshman Kara Deblaiso set up the crucial first goal by drawing a foul inside the penalty box. The freshman added an insurance goal with 27:10 left in the first half on a breakaway for a 3-0 advantage.

 Sophomore goalies Jess Tolve helped the lead hold up with seven saves. Tolve began the season on junior varsity and was among five keepers utilized throughout the Generals’ 6-3-5 regular season.

“She has done an amazing job since she has come up,” San Filippo said. “When we need here we can count on her.”

Last Saturday marked MacArthur’s third win against Valley Stream North this fall after posting a pair of 2-0 regular season wins against the Spartans. North was led by UConn-bound Yamilee Eveillard, who finished her final high school season with 13 goals and four assists. She set up he Spartans up with their best scoring chance in the final seconds of the first half with a feed in front of the net to sophomore Baylee Berkley that went just wide of the net.

“It’s definitely going to tough next year adjusting without her,” said North coach Geoff O’Connell of losing Eveillard, who captured Conference AB-2 Player of the Year honors.

North finished the 2016 season at 5-7-2 overall a year after dropping first round playoff overtime heartbreaker to North Shore last year. Despite not reaching the quarterfinals, O’Connell said he was pleased with his team competed this fall.

“It was definitely a positive season,” O’Connell said. “We had 10 seniors so this was their season and they definitely reacted positive to it.”

MacArthur, which moved down to Class A from AA due to declining enrollment, will next look to upset longtime county powerhouse South Side on in Rockville Centre to earn a spot in Saturday’s semifinal round at Cold Spring Harbor High School. San Filippo said after competing in Conference II during the reason season, his team is excited to go up against a team with the tradition of South Side.

“One of our goals was to make a statement against a Conference I team,” San Filippo said. “This is what we have been wanting.”