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Overcast Young Rams notch first win
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West Hempstead sophomore Olivia Czavar, left, scored twice in a victory over Clarke on Sept. 23 and already has four goals and two assists on the year.
Susan Grieco/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 on Sept. 23. Freshman Courtney Sills 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.
“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 win over Valley Stream South two days later evened the conference record at 2-2. 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, Czavar and Selim. They combined for nine goals and three assists through the first six games. Selim was an All-Conference sweeper last fall and spent a little time in the midfield before moving all the way up to forward. “Sasha’s a playmaker with a finesse game and it was time to get her more involved with the offense,” Scaturro said.
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