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Mostly Cloudy Rams in playoff contention
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Courtney Sills, left, from Island Park, is tied for the team lead in goals with seven.
Jeff Wilson/Herald
Using a fifth different starting lineup in as many games, West Hempstead girls’ soccer coach Mike Scaturro watched the young Rams’ offense click for the first time in 2009.
The result was a 7-1 victory over Conference IV rival Clarke. Freshman Courtney Sills, a resident of Island Park, scored three goals and sophomore Olivia Czavar added a pair as West Hempstead got in the win column after suffering four straight losses out of the gate. The Rams stand at 2-4-2 with four games remaining.
“It was nice to see us finish around the cage,” Scaturro said. “Our starting lineup consists of juniors, sophomores and freshmen, so we’re a work in progress. I’ve tweaked the lineup every game...trying to find something that worked. I think we’ll stick with this [lineup] for a while.”
The Rams, who in 2008 went 8-3-1 in Conference IV and lost a Class A first-round playoff game to Seaford by a goal, jumped all over Clarke with five first-half goals. Junior Bryanna Grogan and sophomore Sasha Selim also scored, and juniors Katie Kurs and Ashley Merrill chipped in two assists apiece. “We finally got some confidence going,” Scaturro said.
A .500 or better record is needed to qualify for the playoffs, and Scaturro believes the Rams are capable despite their youth. “The conference is basically new, and hard to figure out so far,” he said. “We have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs.”
The offense is spearheaded by Sills and Czavar. Each has seven goals. Selim was an All-Conference sweeper last fall and spent a little time in the midfield before moving all the way up to forward. She went down for the year with an injury on Oct. 13.
Though new to the varsity scene, Sills has played like a veteran. “Courtney’s aggressive, always hustles and isn’t afraid to mix it up physically,” Scaturro said. “She doesn’t stop running and is a force for us up front.”
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