East Rockaway senior nets historic 100th goal

Even when she was young, Malverne-East Rockaway soccer team head coach Joe Lores knew Kailey Hyland was something special on the pitch.

“I run a thing called South Shore Camps and she was a camper there when she was 7,” Lores recalled. “My son Michael was her counselor, and he came to me one day and said, ‘Dad, you gotta watch this kid play soccer.’ We knew back then that something special was going to happen.”

Something special did happen on Sept. 24 during East Rockaway-Malverne’s away game against Great Neck South. Hailey completed a rare feat, notching the 100th goal of her career.

“I think it’s phenomenal,” Lores said. “I’ve been coaching here for 23 years and I’ve never heard this conversation mentioned before. When have you ever heard of a 100-goal scorer in soccer? It just doesn’t happen.”

Hyland, a senior at East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School, began playing soccer when she was 3 and said that at a young age she found she had a knack for it. From there, she played on intramural and travel teams and made it a mission to keep getting better.

“I loved playing it,” she said. “I love the competition.”

Hyland said the game against Great Neck South started with disappointment as her mother, Gail Hyland, told her she wasn’t going to be able to make the game. However, when she scored her goal, Gail and other members of Kylie’s family were there to cheer her on.

“I was surprised to see her there,” Kailey said. “It was nerve wracking, but I love their support and I’m so glad they were all there to see it and be there for me.”

Kailey had 10 goals on the season as of press time, and said she would like to play soccer in college next year, but is still searching for the right fit. To commemorate the milestone, a soccer ball will be placed in the school’s display case in Kailey’s honor.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “I never thought I could actually do it, so when I did it, I was very surprised. I want to score more and keep it going.”