On a beautiful Saturday morning, the Garden City Sparks (GU11) traveled to Massapequa to take on the Spirit. This rivalry started in Windsor, CT when the Spirit squeaked out a fiercely contested battle 1-0. The Sparks started a bit slow but began to pick-up the pace after about 10 minutes of play. The midfield of Sarah Galzerano, Katherine Malhame, Kate Demarco, Shannon Callahan and Taylor Carpentier started to find the gaps in the Massapequa defense. Skillful passes and through balls into space ignited the attack of Erin Connolly, Anne Blanco, Tara DeAngelo, and Brianna Maglio. Only the top rated keeper kept the Sparks off the scoreboard. As the pressure mounted on Massapequa, the Sparks won a corner kick. On the ensuing corner kick by Caroline Beatty, Erin Connolly hammered a shot right towards the top corner of the goal only to hit a Massapequa defender. Nevertheless, the force of the shot was too difficult to handle and it deflected into the goal. Like a heavyweight battle it was now the Spirit's turn to mount pressure. With about five minutes to go in the half, Massapequa's forward launched a rocket from outside of the box into top corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1. The second half was back and forth with these two friendly rivals battling. Halfway into the second half Haley O'Hanlon drilled a shot from about 22 yards out that went through the outstretched arms of the Spirit keeper. The Sparks clearly thought it was a goal as the ball landed behind the keeper. However, the official ruled that it had not crossed the line. Unfortunately for the Sparks, goal line replay technology is not used in the LIJSL. The Sparks continued to mount pressure. Late in the game, deep in the Massapequa defensive area, Emma Gallagher took a throw in that was headed towards the Spirit goal. The Spirit defender lifted arms and clearly impeded the ball. Haley O'Hanlon stepped up and calmly struck the penalty kick into the lower corner of the goal to give the Sparks a 2-1 lead and eventually the victory. Once again all of the girls played great team defense and got stand out goalkeeping by Kaitlyn Gorman. The last 3 league games will be at home starting this weekend against Oyster Bay. Keep it going girls!