GC Shock East Meadow Stingrays

Hailey Harder zips past a defender

The GC Shock, GU10, defeated the second place East Meadow Stingrays last week-end in a come from behind victory by a score of 2 to 1 to clinch first place in the Nassau Central division of the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

It was a hard fought battle from the opening kick off as the East Meadow Stingrays were out to avenge their earlier losses to the Shock in the first game of the season in September and in the Covanta tournament in August. Although play was back and forth for most of the first half, defenders Olivia DeCurtis, Juliana Kubler and Caroline Peppard were able to keep their opponents at bay for most of the first half with Emma Costello providing aggressive goal tending and making some important saves to keep the Shock in the game.It was clear from the start that the girls from East Meadow were in it to win it especially on their home turf. They brought a physical game but the Shock met the challenge well.

Offensively, Tiana Biscone, Jenna Cammarata, Julia Forbes, Hailey Harder, Brooke McDaid and Kerri Metzler worked hard to get the ball into scoring position in East Meadow's end in the first half but came up short against some physical East Meadow defenders and a goalie who made some nice saves to keep the Shock scoreless.

Tianna Biscone in control

With the first half coming to a close, an East Meadow forward was able to slide one past the defenders and out of Emma Costello's reach to take the lead going into half time.

Early in the second half with the Shock pressing for a goal to even the score, an East Meadow defender was called for a hand ball in the box. Coach Metzler signaled to Caroline Peppard to step up to take the penalty kick. Caroline calmly put the ball into the lower left corner to tie the score at one a piece. The Shock erupted at the site of Caroline's shot rocketing into the back of the net and they mobbed their teammate in celebration!

But the game was not yet over, there was still a whole half to play and the Shock needed another goal to take the lead.

Olivia DeCurtis and Juliana Kubler made some shockingly long through-ins to set up many of GC's offensive threats in both the first and second halves.

Jenna Cammarata on a break away

After relinquishing the goalie shirt to Kerri Metzler, Emma Costello came on to the field in the second half eager to even the score and added fresh legs and renewed determination to the offense. Emma would take the brunt of East Meadow's frustration on a foul along the left side line. But East Meadow's rough and tough style of play would not deter or intimidate the Shock, in fact it fired up the Shock and the girls gained the momentum after Emma was fouled taking the ball to the East Meadow goalie time and again with nu-merous near misses by Tiana Biscone, Julia Forbes, Jenna Cammarata, Brooke McDaid, Emma Costello and Hailey Harder.

Kerri Metzler made some beautiful saves in the second half on East Meadow's counter attacks to keep them scoreless then clearing the ball nicely to her outside defenders Juliana Kubler and Olivia DeCurtis who in turn moved the ball up the wings.

Finally, with about 5 minutes left to play, Brooke McDaid carried the ball up the right wing on a clear from Kerri Metzler. Brooke battled past two East Meadow players then, with perfect touch and speed, dished the ball to Tiana Biscone who had been supporting in the middle. Tiana received the ball, made one move around a defender and was one on one with the goalie. Tiana shot to the lower left corner out of the goalie's reach for the winning goal!

A few plays later, Jenna Cammarata would take a similar route up the right wing and fire a shot on goal. The goalie deflected the ball, but Hailey Harder and Julia Forbes were right there for the rebound. Hailey 's shot went just wide, but the positioning of the girls and their continued offensive pressure and presence was a signal to the fans that all was well and that the Shock would not let East Meadow turn the tides before time ran out. The wall of defense provided by Peppard, Kubler and DeCurtis would prevent much of a threat after that.

Coaches Metzler, Cammarata and Kubler were extremely proud of the girls for their tremendous effort, great team work and sportsmanship. Their hard work and determination proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

The Shock will meet another tough team this weekend when they host the Levittown Breakers at St. Pauls for their final game of the season. Get Shocked and come on down to the field to see the girls play and cheer them on!

Way to go Shock, keep up the hard work! Go GC!!!