Freeport notches winning record

It didn’t come easy, but the Freeport girls’ soccer team did just enough to secure that desired winning season.

Despite scoring twice in their final five games, the Red Devils finished the season 7-6-1 after a 1-0 victory over Uniondale on Oct. 17 that guaranteed a mark above .500. Maria Portela scored the game’s only goal in the first half and fellow sophomore Sonia Chavez blocked all six Knight shots for her sixth shutout.

Unfortunately, that record wasn’t good enough to clinch a playoff spot, but first-year coach Mark Andrejack will easily take it after the team finished 4-10-1 last fall.

“The winning record is definitely great,” he said. “It’s something that’s an improvement and a step in the right direction. I know some of the girls definitely wanted to get a couple of more wins on there, which truly is a testament to their competitiveness and how hard they work.”

The Red Devils also enjoyed their success despite having just six players with points this season. Seniors Brianne Belizaire and Alisson Caceres and freshman Sabrina Ligonde tri-lead the team with seven points, with the latter pacing the club with six goals. Ligonde had five goals in a five-game span from Sept. 27-Oct. 11, including a pair in a 3-0 win at Hempstead on Oct. 7.

“I think the stat sheet isn’t as reflective of how those goals would come about,” Andrejack said. “It might be that name you see on the scoresheet, but that scoring play was really started in the defensive end or with a big save. It’s really a team goal instead of individuals playing out there. They really play together and whoever ends up scoring, that's great, but we’re happy that the team scored.”

Belizaire helped carry the offense at the start of the season with two goals and an assist in a 5-1 season-opening win at Malverne/East Rockaway before collecting the lone tally in a 1-0 win over Hempstead on Sept. 14. Caceres contributed four goals in three contests at the end of September, including two in a 3-0 triumph at Uniondale on Sept. 27.

The team’s biggest win of the season, Andrejack believed, was a 1-0 win at Sewanhaka on Oct. 11. The Red Devils lost a tough 1-0 contest in the first meeting on Sept. 19 after allowing a goal with 21 seconds left, but Ligonde had the game’s only tally in the first half and Chavez had 12 saves for the revenge win.

“Sewanhaka’s a very talented team,” Andrejack said. “That was a good one to get back.”

Portela added three goals on the season – including markers in back-to-back games in early October – and junior Ashley Zavala netted a pair with an assist.

The defense was led by Ava and Cassie Smith, and the latter also contributed offensively with a goal at Hempstead. Juniors Dorla Miguel and Elsy Soriano were also strong contributors for a defensive corps that surrendered just under two scores a game.

Andrejack lauded junior Allison Lazo for her growth at midfield during her maiden season on varsity and expects her to be one of his leaders in 2024.