North Shore peaking at right time

Against Friends Academy Oct. 3, North Shore girls soccer finally resembled the beautiful team coach Lauren Gotta envisions. 
They call soccer “The Beautiful Game’’ and the maroon did it proud. North Shore captured a 1-0 decision over Friends Academy and stood at 2-2-1 entering this week’s action.
 But it was more than the final score that had Gotta feeling the Vikings are primed for takeoff. That is North Shore’s modus operandi. 
Last season the Sea Cliff/Glen Head program recorded a modest regular season before busting out in the playoffs, advancing to the Nassau County Class A quarterfinals. 
“Everybody knows not to take us lightly,’’ Gotta said. “We peak late. It’s always how we’ve been.’’

The Friends victory was an early sign. 
“We moved the ball the best with its nice, big soccer field and we showcased how we’ve been teaching them,’’ Gotta said. “Move the ball and use that space. (The coaches) were so pleased. Even if they lost the game, they did so many things right. We played pretty and creative.’’ 
By contrast, Gotta was infuriated with its style in a  Plainedge loss in September. “It was a lot of kick and run and that is not us,’’ Gotta said, referring to a British style. “We can’t play kick and run with our players.’’
Goal scoring has been a major concern. North Shore hasn’t posted more than two scores in a game. The leading goal-scorers are Crystal Knoell and Erin Lily LaRosa, each with two goals. 
Ironically, in the win over Friends, no player got credited for a goal. Rising sophomore midfielder Isabel Guerrero rifled a corner kick off a Friends’ player. 
“We’re a work in progress,’’ Gotta said. “We should have a lot more goals. We have had a lot of opportunities. But we are consistently shooting right at the goalkeeper or missing. We’re working with them on decision-making, which is a higher level of thinking.’’ 
“We’re trying to drill them in practice. We’ll start scoring more in upcoming games and it will open the floodgates.’’
Senior goalie Meredith Papiro admits it’s “put a little more pressure” on her to be perfect. A three-year starter, the co-captain has been steady, averaging nine saves and using her feet more. 
“I’ve been pretty happy,’’ Papiro said. “Some games I had mess-ups but  I wouldn’t have been this good without my defense. They’ve helped me with a lot of saves. Especially when I’m out of the box, the defenders are there to support me.’’ 
The superstar defender is Sofia Martini She’s paired with forceful freshman Zoe Carillo, who’s been the ideal backline complement, 
Martini has been magnificent. . 
“If we could clone her, we’d be perfect,’’ Gotta said. “She’s so strong in the back but could she play anywhere. We moved her last game to every position. But she just holds the backline together because she’s so strong and skillful. She’s best there.”
Guerrero’s midfield play has been a revelation. Transferring from Brooklyn last season as a freshman, she played timidly. “She’s come out of her shell and is super confident,’’ Gotta said. “So good on the ball.’’  
Gotta says a lot of her players are more athletes than soccer specialists and, hence, it takes longer. “Our time will come’’ Papiro said.