Force Finishes Strong In Final Weekend

So close, so close. Soccer, like most sports, is a game of inches and no team was reminded of that more than Garden City Girl's U-10 Force this past weekend. The girls entered the weekend unbeaten and looked to finish the season strong, perhaps taking second place at the same time in division NN. Finish strong they did, but they came up just a touch short of second place.

Thanks to mother nature, the Force had two games last weekend. The first being the much anticipated contest against first place and unbeaten Syosset Eagles, and the second a make up game against the feisty New Hyde Park Kitkats. The Eagles came to Garden City Saturday with an impressive 8-0-0 record, outscoring their opponents 35-5 this season. They left Garden City realizing that the Force plays true to their name and were more than up to the challenge.

The sidelines were packed with spectators who knew this was the Force's biggest challenge of the year. Annie Walsh and Janine Schwendemman had just gotten their casts off and were ready to make up for lost time. Olivia Giarraputo, still sidelined with a broken foot, was there on the sidelines as well, cheering on her teammates for this important match up. The action was lightening fast right off the start, with both teams moving the ball quickly and creating multiple scoring chances. Goaltender Alicia Cristoforo turned Eagle shot after shot away and gave her teammates all the confidence they needed.

The Force struck first. A nifty rush by speedster Gabby Marcoux got the ball moving across midfield, where Jillian Minda picked it up and did what she does best. She threaded through the defense and ripped a shot past the helpless Syosset keeper to make the score 1-0 Garden City. This lead was short lived however and Syosset tied the game minutes later at 1-1 after a terrific shot that found the left corner. Fans and spectators alike assumed at this point that this game was set to be a high scoring slugfest.

The fans were certainly treated to a slugfest alright. Each team moved the ball well, but were stopped by strong defensive play on both sides. Defensive stalwarts Lily Shannon, Shelby Rivielle and Annie Randazzo kept the ball out of their zone as they had done all season. Alana Macleod covered so much ground in the backfield it seemed like there were two of her out there at times. Catherine Honan moved the ball well up the sidelines multiple times, but Syosset was there to thwart all of the Force's rushes in the first half.

The second half picked up right where the first had ended. With the scored knotted at one, both teams battled for field position scoring chances being turned away by defenders and goalkeepers. Syosset sent one shot sailing off the crossbar and Garden City sent a couple just wide of the net. The oooo's and aaaah's from the crowd told the story. Each goal in this game was precious. With the crowd assuming this game would end a 1-1 tie and with seconds remaining, somehow the Eagles managed to penetrate the box of the Force. A missed shot, a scramble in front and somehow the ball squirted loose right on the foot of a Syosset forward. Only one person separated her from blasting home the sure game winner from point blank range.....keeper Maddie McCabe. The Syosset forward got a great shot off, but Maddie turned it aside, saving the game seconds before the final whistle blew sealing a hard fought 1-1 tie.

Sunday brought more of the same tight end to end action as the Force played their last game of the season against the New Hyde Park Kitkats. Gabby Marcoux got the party started with a blast that sailed past the helpless keeper to take a 1-0 lead. Solid goaltending by Lily Shannon and continued defensive stops by Shelby Rivielle, Maddie McCabe and Alana Macleod kept this game close and kept the ball moving in the offensive direction.

Midfield battles by the Force's Janine Schwendemman, Jillian Minda and Annie Walsh kept the pressure on all game. Schwendemman and Walsh were back to their midseason form and sans casts were more than ready to battle for any loose balls that came their way. The Force capitalized by a nifty corner kick by strong footed Annie Randazzo, who sent one onto the foot of Catherine Honan who tucked it in the corner for a 2-0 lead. New Hyde Park responded quickly with a goal of their own and the half ended with the score 2-1 Garden City.

Multiple scoring chances by Garden city were turned away in the second half by the impressive NHP goalkeeper. Another goal by NHP midway through the second half tied the game at two and set the stage for a fantastic finish. End to end action, ferocious battles for the ball and sensational goaltending by Alicia Cristoforo brought cheers from the crowd. Cristoforo even took a shot off the face, but managed to cover it up and after taking a few seconds to collect herself, returned courageously to her position. Unfortunately, no goalkeeper could have stopped the top corner shot from the NHP player that gave them the 3-2 lead. With seconds ticking off, the Force went for broke sending all six players deep for the final corner kick. It just wasn't to be however as the whistle sounded, handing the GC Force their ONLY loss of the season.

Its back indoors for Winter Soccer for the girls now, but they can take solace in the fact that they played their hearts out all through their first season, having lost only one game and outscoring opponents 27-11. Well done girls, hold your heads high and be proud of you accomplishments!!