Injuries flare for improved West Hempstead

The West Hempstead girls’ soccer team is arguably the most improved team in Nassau County and now also the most injured. 

After rolling to a 7-2-1 start with two games remaining in the regular season, the injury bug has besieged coach Kelly Byrne’s squad. 

While West Hempstead is in first place, it has four starters injured – some more serious than others. 

Defensive midfielder Cayla Hogan tore her ACL. Junior defender Melanie Rodriguez suffered a dislocated knee. Senior captain center defender Jancy Cabrera has a sprained ankle. Finally, sophomore midfielder Mikaela Sarmiento suffered a knee injury last week with no return timetable. (Cabrera and Rodriguez have the best chance of making it back).

To date, it’s been a golden season but may not end as sweetly as hoped. Consider the prior two seasons under Byrne, the Rams were seen as a struggling program. They won just two games in each campaign. 

“Absolutely,’ Kelly said when asked if the injuries could effect its title chances. “Cabrera and Hogan are huge losses for us. But the other girls are picking up the slack.''

The Rams must rely even moreso on the centerpiece — junior sniper Madison Abi-Aoun, who has exploded for 14 goals and 5 assists. The midfielder has two hat tricks. Abi-Aoun said her turnaround is partly due to “being more selfish in the attacking zone.’’

Abi-Aoun is only as dangerous as her playmaking partner, Sara Dos Santos a junior with 3 goals, 9 assists. 

“They play very well together,’’ Byrne said. “They’re also together on a West Hempstead club team for three years.  Sarah really feeds Madison the ball nicely. Their maturity on the field has been the difference.’’

Byrne said Santos reminds her of USA National Team member, Rose Lavelle. “They’re both feisty and very fast,’’ Byrne said. “She can get herself out of traffic and away from players very quickly.’’ 

With the spate of injuries that have hurt its defensive posture, two freshmen have stepped up — Alexa Rivera and Willow Stern. “They’re making contributions — offensive players now playing on the defense,” Byrne said. 

There is no concern in goal, where four-year starter, junior captain Sophia Ciminera is a cornerstone. A starter since eighth grade, Ciminera has 125 saves.

“ She’s very quick,’’ Byrne said. “She knows how to take the angle off any ball coming to her. She’s very good positioning and communicating with defensive line on how they need to cover.’’

Another contributor is Ivana Jimenez, a left midfielder.

“Midfield is our strongest position,’’ said Byrne, a former St. John’s player. “We’re all pushing up so we’ve turned into an offensive team. We have the legs to do it.’’

West Hempstead faces Lawrence and Oyster Bay on back-to-back days this week. In the last meeting against Oyster Bay, the Rams lost 3-1 and also two players to injury. Byrne said Oyster Bay’s “physicality’ is a big worry. 

The rematch Oct. 18 could decide the title in Conference A/B 3 as it fends off Locust Valley. "We’ve come together,’’ Abi-Aoun said. “The freshmen have improved tremendously. We’ll stand strong together for our upcoming games. We’re home. Our spirits will be high. We’ll have a good crowd cheering us on. I think we’re strong.‘’