By Marley Seaman
Freeport had defeated West Hempstead twice during the tennis regular season, but the Rams came through when it counted most: the Oct. 13 championship match. It was Freeport's only loss of the year.
Lady Rams soccer finished with a record of 10-4-2, and entered the playoffs as a ninth seed. That enabled them to host a playoff game against Bethpage. Natasha Arana scored both goals in the 2-1 victory.
"They were real competitors," said coach Mike Scaturro. "We overachieved, but we had a bunch of talented athletes."
Those talented athletes included All-County honoree Gabriella Petralia, All-Class player Jenna D'Alessandro, and a pair of All-Conference players in Arana and goalie Kristyn Sandberg. Katie Johansen was named the team's senior Scholar-Athlete.
"The playoff win was the highlight" of the season, Scaturro said, but the team's final game ‹ a 2-0 loss to top-seeded Southside High School in a night game at Skelos Park ‹ was also a memorable experience.
Arana, a sophomore whose twin sister, Natali, also plays on the team, finished the year with a team-leading nine goals. Michelle DeLace had five goals, while Petralia had four and a team-high eight assists. The Arana twins, D'Alessandro, and Sandberg will all be back next year, and will be crucial to next year's team.
S: Volleyball loses to Wantagh in semis
Sports commentators often talk of "the playoff atmosphere," a rarefied air said to exist in the most important games. That intensity and drama was in full effect during West Hempstead's semifinal game against Wantagh High School on Nov. 3. Wantagh took the contest in five tough sets.
With fans cheering after every point ‹ sometimes, it seemed, every time a player hit the ball ‹ West Hempstead rushed out to an 8-0 lead in the first set. Wantagh gradually clawed its way into the match, trying the set multiple times. The Rams needed several tries to wrap up the opener, 28-26.
The second set stayed even in the early going, but the Warriors used a string of seven consecutive points to put some distance between them and the Rams. They claimed the set 25-17, and they took the third set by the same score. Wantagh¹s side of the bleachers came to life as the team drew closer and closer to a finals berth, and West Hempstead's fans got quieter, folding their arms and waiting, hoping the team would come back to life and give them something to cheer for.
The Rams began the fourth set with renewed energy and took an early lead. That lead got as large as nine points, when the score was 17-8. But soon, Wantagh came alive, scoring nine out of ten points to tie the set at 22, and then take the lead.
"Momentum! We have it!" called a Warriors fan. But momentum can disappear as quickly as it arrives. Wantagh was only two points from winning at match at 23-22, but didn't score again in the set. An attempted kill went into the net, and West Hempstead had another chance to serve. Danielle Romano hit a serve that Wantagh couldn¹t handle, and Melinda DiGiovanna ended a long set point with an enthusiastic smash into the center of the court. The match was tied, and West Hempstead¹s fans ‹ including a portion of the football team ‹ cheered, shouted and pounded on the bleachers like a drum. Wantagh was quieter. Victory now seemed far away.
West Hempstead's boosters chanted "Let's go Rams!" as they waited for the decisive set. Other fans waved signs.
Wantagh opened up a slight lead early in the set, and the margin grew as large as five points. Again, West Hempstead came back. The game was tied at 16, then at 20, 21, 22 and 23. But finally, after a missed serve, Wantagh was able to finish the match, winning the set 25-23.
Comments? MSeaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
