Kathleen Galgano battles hard for position For the second week in a row, the Garden City Strikers U12 girls soccer team rallied from a one-goal deficit to win a game. Last Saturday, the Strikers rebounded from 1-0 down to defeat the Port Washington Hurricanes, 3-1. The teams had played to a scoreless tie in the Ref-Fuel tournament in August.

The home-standing Hurricanes came out strong in the first 10 minutes and got a break when Garden City was called for a hand ball in the box. Port Washington converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it 1-0.

Later in the first half, the Strikers got into their offensive groove. Kimberly Ryan sent a big corner kick toward the middle of goal mouth. Christina Capetola emerged with the ball and smacked it into the right side to tie the game at 1-all.

Brooke Van Valkenburg lines one up The final 30 minutes was all Garden City. Second-half goalkeeper Kathryn Montgomery kept Port Washington at bay, and the defense of Darcy McGuire, Elizabeth Malhame, Tara Mahon, Brook Van Valkenburg and Gabby Zafonte played smart soccer and kept the ball out of danger.

The Strikers took a 2-1 lead a few minutes into the second half when Liz Stutzmann neatly stripped the ball from a Port Washington defender and blasted a shot with her left foot over the keeper?s head. Garden City continued to press the attack, as Kathleen Galgano, Jenna Fuchs, Colleen Metzler, Kristen Conboy, Maggie Comiskey and Tate McLaughlin applied pressure on the Hurricanes.

Liz Stutzmann battles a Port Washington player for possession, with Kimberly Ryan ready to take control Garden City scored its clinching goal with about 10 minutes to play. On a corner kick, Kimberly Ryan muscled a shot to the right of the net. Megan Martinelli, who had a strong game, controlled the ball and made a terrific shot over the keeper?s head for the score. Garden City never let Port Washington get on track in the final minutes as the Strikers wrapped up a nice victory.

Jenna Fuchs breaks up the play, with Elizabeth Malhame providing support Special thanks to parents Bob Martinelli and Paul Van Valkenburg for their great photographs.

The Strikers play host to North Shore on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.