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Mostly Cloudy Lady Colts grab first win
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Calhoun midfielder Kelly Cummings attacks the ball during last Friday's 2-1 Conference III victory over Valley Stream Central.
Susan Grieco/Herald
First half goals by senior forward Danielle Kirby and sophomore center-midfielder Mary Hijazi gave Calhoun an early lead, and strong goalkeeping by freshman Alissa Battaglia made it stand up as the Lady Colts notched their first win of the soccer season, 2-1, over Valley Stream Central last Friday. Kirby launched a shot over the head of the Lady Eagles goalie Jacquelyn Mancini, while Hijazi converted a penalty kick after Central was whistled for a handball inside the box.
“I think we needed it for the girls spirits,” Calhoun first-year coach Lori Biscardi said, also noting the positive carryover of emotion from a pep rally at school earlier that same day. “We had a tough run the first couple of weeks.”
Calhoun (1-4-1 overall, 1-2-1 in Conference III) took some lumps during a tough non-conference schedule that included games against East Meadow, a top contender for the Conference I crown and MacArthur from Conference II, but the win could be a springboard for a team looking to fight its way back into its own conference playoff chase.
Battaglia, in her first year as the starting varsity keeper, is far more experienced then her class rank might suggest. She made a dozen saves against the Lady Eagles, and came out of the net on several throw-in attempts to punch away a few other potential scoring opportunities. “She’s making really key saves,” Biscardi said. “She’s very aggressive and coming out to the ball. I think they all are just realizing how good she is. They have a lot of faith in her, and she’s very vocal for a freshman.”
Junior sweeper Ellie Rosenblum and sophomore defenseman Talia Charidah are anchors on the back line, while junior Sarah Shuster takes on a defensive role at center-midfield. The defense is where the Lady Colts are likely to make their biggest adjustments after facing off against some of Nassau’s top offenses. “One thing I know we’ll improve on is marking tighter,” Biscardi said. “I think that they know what to do on defense which is definitely going to help.”
Hijazi, who after six games trailed Kirby by only one goal on Calhoun’s leaderboard, 3-2, is the catalyst of the offense and gets support on the left side of midfield from senior Kelly Cummings, who’s booming left foot has become a weapon on crossing passes. “Our strength is our passing,” Biscardi said.
Freshman Michelle Iacono, just back on the field after being sidelined by a preseason ankle injury, is expected to be a contributor at forward along with Kirby. “She has skills and is very experienced,” Biscardi said.
The well-balanced Lady Colts, who boast a roster of 11 upperclass and 11 underclass players, travel to Mepham this Friday for a 4:30 p.m. start, then kick off the second half of the Conference III slate on Oct. 6 at home against Division at 4:45 p.m.
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