Playoffs the goal for Carey

Posted

A myriad of injuries to key players was a big factor in Carey’s inability to register more than just a handful of victories over the past two seasons on the soccer pitch.
However, with a slew of talent and a relatively healthy lineup, the Lady Seahawks are off to their best start since the 2015 season. After a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visiting Roslyn, Carey’s record stood at 3-1-1 (2-1-1 in Nassau Conference AB-5). Olivia Martelli’s goal in the 77th minute gave the Seahawks the win. Gabby DeVito had seven saves to earn the shutout.
Carey hopes to be in the hunt come playoff time in a league comprising Roslyn, Seaford, Hewlett, Oyster Bay, and a very strong Valley Stream South team.
With few seniors on the roster, head coach Lola Intagliata sees the 2018 season as a stepping stone. “We have mostly juniors and sophomores on the team, so the future seems quite bright,” Intagliata said. “We’re at a point where we’re rebuilding. We’re preaching that everyone has to play with a purpose. Every player has to be accountable. The idea is to find ways to get better every day.”
DeVito, who is considered one of the top net minders in the county, has allowed just six goals over the first five matches. The senior captain keeps the defense in check and does a great job of seeing the entire pitch.

The defensive unit is young, but talented. Junior stopper Vanessa Vasilaskis and sophomore sweeper Jaiden Velez form a terrific tandem on Carey’s backline. Sophomore Nicolette Clifford and junior Nora Higgins, who missed the past two seasons with injuries, handle the outside. Higgins takes the team’s corner kicks. She had an assist on Martelli’s goal.
Martelli and her twin sister Gabby have tremendous skill sets and excellent chemistry. The junior center midfielders each have a knack for handling the ball and setting up teammates. Gabby set up Olivia for the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mineola in the season opener.
A huge part of the present and future of Carey soccer are freshman Laura Acquafredda and sophomore Grace Bowen. The two outside midfielders are solid two-way players who possess speed and strength. Senior captain Daniella Rodriguez recently returned from injury.  Intagliata hopes to have senior Marilena Mangiaracini back from injury in the near future.
The Lady Seahawks have a pair of strikers who can finish. Sophomore Emily DiProperzio plays well with the Martelli twins and has a nose for the net. Junior Leyla Kalmaz has a strong foot and shoots with accuracy. Kalmaz can also fill in at midfield if needed.
Intagliata is optimistic. “I like the way we’re playing for the most part,” Intagliata said. “It’s essential that we play our game and not allow our opponents to dictate the pace. Being healthy is a big plus for us. I like this team a lot.”