By TONY BELLISSIMO
For the first time since 1998, the Kennedy High School girls soccer team went down to defeat in a conference game. And it took overtime for it to happen.
Farmingdale's Lorraine Quinn scored with five minutes left in the second overtime to lift the visiting Lady Dalers to a thrilling 2-1 Conference IV victory over the Lady Cougars on Saturday morning.
Kennedy, which went 11-0-1 last season and won two straight to open 2000, had tied the game with 2:19 remaining in regulation time on a direct kick by senior Allison Banhazl. Farmingdale improved to 3-0-1.
"It took a perfect shot to beat us," Kennedy Coach Frank Ferrara said. "It was a very intense game for just the third game of the season. Sometimes you don't want to tie, but coming back the way we did, it would have been nice. Still, it's one loss and we can't dwell on it.
"We never played Farmingdale in soccer before this game. They're a well coached team, and they were relentless in the first half."
Much like Kennedy's 2-1 win over Lynbrook last week, the Lady Cougars were outplayed and out-shot in the first 40 minutes. Farmingdale took a 1-0 lead when Kristen Freiermuth beat junior goalkeeper Stefanie Gillman (10 saves) on a direct kick midway through the half.
"They out-shot us by a 2-1 margin in the first half but we were very much in the game down by only one goal," Ferrara explained.
Kennedy picked its level of play up in the second half. Junior sweeper Dana Corben led the defense, while a senior-led midfield did its best to keep the ball in the attacking zone.
The Lady Cougars came close to pulling even on a number of occasions. Two minutes before Banhazl's goal, senior Fara Kitton drilled a shot off the crossbar. Kennedy could have easily been discouraged thereafter, but instead kept plugging away.
"We controlled the second half," Ferrara said.
The overtimes were evenly played. It took another direct kick to send Kennedy down to defeat.
"Both goals they scored were on stopped plays," Ferrara said.
The loss put an end to the Lady Cougars' 14-game conference win streak, which dated back to 1998. That included recent wins over Lynbrook and Great Neck South.
Kitton scored twice in the win over Lynbrook, including the game-winner with 19:30 remaining. She took a crossing pass from junior Lauren Kuncewitch and one-timed it past the Lady Owls' keeper. Kitton also scored eight minutes into the second half on a header set up by sophomore Erica Berman. Gillman had 14 saves.
"I was real pleased with the Lynbrook game, especially in the second half," Ferrara said.
Kennedy's 5-1 victory over Great Neck South in the conference opener wasn't as lopsided as the score indicates. The Lady Cougars scored twice in the final three minutes to seal the outcome. Berman and Jamie Breman scored two goals apiece. Kitton added one goal and one assist and Gillman totaled 11
saves.
"It was a close game most of the way," Ferrara said. "It's not like they didn't get shots against us. Stefanie had to make some tough saves." Gillman stopped a breakaway and recorded a 1-0 shutout victory in a non-conference game against Clarke.
This week is a pivotal one for the Lady Cougars. Road trips to Plainview, Port Washington and MacArthur present quite a challenge.
"We'll have a good indication of where we stand after this week," Ferrara said. "Three road games in four days is going to be tough. The bright side about it is that we'll finish up with four of six at home."
