By Steve Siniski
Baldwin, seeded-seventh, rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits to earn a 3-2 victory and advance to the second round against No. 2 East Meadow last Wednesday.
The Lady Bruins took their only lead of the game with six minutes remaining when Natasha Phidd finished off an indirect kick by All-Class AA sweeper Kelly O¹Connor just inside the 18-yard line.
³The best thing about this team is that they fight until the end,² coach Darius Burton said. ³They don¹t ever give up.²
The Lady Generals opened the scoring just 2:30 into the game on Jessica Balling¹s first goal of the game. Her second goal of the half-helped MacArthur carry a 2-1 edge into intermission.
³In the last two games I¹ve gotten on our defense and the goaltender at halftime,² Burton said. ³And they haven¹t let up a goal in the second half.²
With the defense holding down the fort, Baldwin broke through with the game-tying goal. All-Class AA freshman Olivia Antonopoulos got the Lady Bruins even earlier in the second half, converting a through ball from All-Class AA forward Ashley Kilcommons. All-County sweeper Kerri Anne Deignan opened the scoring for Baldwin in the first half.
³When you get down 2-1 and you want to win, you have to score,² Burton said.
Once Baldwin grabbed the lead, Deignan and O¹Connor teamed up at the sweeper position, helping fight off any last-minute surges by the Generals. All Conference goaltender Stephanie Vega made several saves from inside of 20 yards and also effectively cleared out a scramble in front of the Lady Bruins net.
The game was also the first on the new home field at Baldwin high school, and a large crowd spurred on the Lady Bruins. ³The crowd got the girls going in the second half,² Burton said. ³All that goes a long way. It felt great.²
The Lady Jets, a Conference I opponent, awaited in the second round, with the winner advancing to the semifinals on November 4. Baldwin and East Meadow squared off in a preseason scrimmage, won by the Lady Jets, 1-0.
Baldwin, overcame a two-goal deficit in the final game of the regular season, a 4-3 win over Plainview JFK on October 20. It was with that win where Burton initially changed up the on-field alignment in an effort to jumpstart the offense. Three forwards, rather than the normal two were on the field and the formula has now worked in each of the two games it¹s been utilized. The early results ‹ seven goals in the alignment ‹ has helped take some of the pressure off the defense and Vega.
³I think the defense has done a pretty good job,² Burton
said. ³It¹s tough when you¹re not scoring. Sooner or later you¹re bound to let a couple in.²
