VSN foiled by Island Trees

Less than a week after Island Trees defeated Valley Stream North in the regular-season finale to capture the Conference A-II girls’ soccer title, the rivals met again in the first round of the Nassau County Class A playoffs.

The result was the same: Island Trees prevailed, 1-0, at home last Friday night thanks to a penalty kick goal by Katie Paz with 14:32 remaining and 10 saves from goalkeeper Brianna Wilson. It was the third time the Lady Bulldogs knocked off the Lady Spartans in 2013.

“We’ve developed a huge rivalry with Island Trees in many sports,” VSN coach Geoff O’Connell said. “Both teams came ready to play and it was a physical game. 

“Our girls were ready and really wanted it,” he added. “I’m proud of the way they battled and handled themselves. It was a great season and I really couldn’t have asked for much more.” 

The best scoring chance for North (9-4-3) came late in the game when the ball rolled within a foot of the post. “If we could’ve just gotten a shoelace on it, we could’ve forced overtime,” O’Connell said.

Senior Jessica Sabal, who posted six shutouts this season, made nine saves playing behind a defense led by fifth-year varsity performers Sarah Miller and Tinamarie Cassiano. “Jessica made some key saves and some important decisions to beat their forwards to the ball,” O’Connell said of Sabal. “It was a tough game, and tough to lose on a penalty kick.”

In the regular-season finale on Oct. 19, Island Trees got an early goal from standout Alexa Dolgos, a junior who enters the quarterfinal round of the playoffs with 11 goals and 10 assists, and held on for a 1-0 win. On top of falling short in the race for the conference championship, North lost the services of Luci Ruddick to an ACL injury. “We missed her in the playoff game,” O’Connell said. 

The Lady Bulldogs won the first meeting Sept. 12, 2-0. “We only lost to two teams all season,” O’Connell said. “Island Trees beat us three times and Clarke beat us once in non-league.”