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Mostly Cloudy Seniors set tone for Central
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Valley Stream Central’s Gina Albano controls the ball as Calhoun’s Lea Sanders defends in last Friday’s Conference III game.
Susan Grieco/Herald
Reaching the Nassau Class AA girls’ soccer playoffs with a junior-oriented roster was a solid accomplishment last fall for Valley Stream Central.
Coach Cassie Maturando is expecting the Lady Eagles to go further this year in large part because of “a terrific group of seniors,” she said. The roster features 10 of them, including All-Class goalkeeper Jacquelyn Mancini and All-Class center-midfielder Samantha Saad.
“We started getting it together midway through last year and it was a good experience to make the playoffs,” Maturando said. “These girls have been playing together for a long time and we’d like to go further [in the playoffs].”
Central was one of only three teams to stick in Conference III after going 5-5-2 in 2008. Bethpage and Wantagh also returned. Calhoun, Division, Jericho and Mepham moved in, while MacArthur, Cold Spring Harbor, Wheatley and Valley Stream South departed. “It’s a new conference and I really don’t know what to expect,” Maturando said. “What we’re finding out is anything can happen on any day.”
That was the case last Friday when Central became Calhoun’s first victim, 2-1. The Lady Colts had only a tie to show for their first four games but got goals from Danielle Kirby and Mary Hijazi and a dozen saves from goalkeeper Alissa Battaglia. “We seemed a step behind on every play,” Maturando said. “It’s a hard game to explain. When we’re on, we’re tough to beat.”
The Lady Eagles (2-2 in Conference III) outscored Jericho and Wantagh by a combined 9-1 in their two victories. Mancini made 12 saves in posting her first shutout of the season, 5-0 over Wantagh on Sept. 17. “She’s a great leader from the back and never has an off game,” Maturando said. “She’s a difference-maker.”
Saad, who picked up a goal and three assists in the two wins, is a four-year member of the varsity squad and brings a powerful shot and strong offensive and defensive instincts to the table. She controls the middle with help from senior Nicole Nardella. Junior Nicole Mercado and sophomore Nicole Riggio are getting the majority of work at outside midfield.
The defense in front of Mancini is led by seniors Stephanie Manta, Lisa Friscia and Kerry Cuccias and junior Silvana Mejia. Friscia and Cuccias are aggressive fullbacks who attack the ball. Manta, the stopper, and Mejia, the sweeper, are new to the back row after spending last season at midfield and forward, respectively. “It took them all but one game to get comfortable,” Maturando said. Mejia still contributes to the offense. She had a goal against Wantagh and tallied twice in a 4-1 win over Jericho on Sept. 23.
Speedy and skilled sophomore Shanice Rube is pacing the offense with five goals, including a hat trick against Wantagh. She’s dangerous in the open field and completes a solid forward tandem with senior Gina Albano, who has assisted on two of Rube’s goals so far.
After three more games on the road, the Lady Eagles return to Firemen’s Field on Oct. 13 to take on Division at 4:45 p.m.
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