The spring season has been one of adjustment for the Flash. After moving up to the first division in the U-10 division of the LIJSL, they now routinely face teams with skill, tactical sense and athleticism far superior to those they met in the fall. Through an accident of scheduling, moreover, they have played the top three teams in the division early in the season, at a time when several players were sidelined with injuries. The results have been several narrow losses. While the girls have generally played well, they have learned that in competitive games, mistakes can be costly. If a defender got out of position in the fall, there were rarely consequences. Now, the same error can easily result in a goal. Similarly, opportunities on offense are harder to generate with individual speed or dribbling alone. Regular chances require teamwork and passing.

These lessons, however, are beginning to sink in. After tough losses to East Meadow and Albertson, games in which the Flash led, the girls held division-leading Levittown scoreless until the final minutes of the game. A late break-away led to a one-goal defeat, but the Flash played well, especially defensively.

Saturday, May 10, found the Flash at Soccer Park, in Plainview, looking to build on their improving play. Taking on the Syosset Eagles, who are lower in the standings, the Flash seemed comfortable from the outset and quickly found their offense. Early in the first half, Nicole Leto, playing on the left wing, worked hard in the corner and drew a foul outside the box. Kerry Defliese put the ensuing free kick right on the back post, where right wing Grace Cameron met it smoothly on the half volley to put the girls in the lead. Shortly thereafter, Nicole took a feed from Emily O'Neill at the top of the box and drilled a right footed shot past the keeper at the right post for a 2-0 lead.

Isabel Klatt, who spent the winter doing it the Brazilian way in futsal training, is seeing her hard work bear fruit. After showing off her ball control up and down the left side throughout the first half, she used some nifty footwork to escape a defender in the box and beat the keeper low at the near post to put the Flash up by three. The pressure continued. Katherine Galzerano released Emily O'Neill in on goal from midfield with an elegant ball through the right side of the Syosset defense. Emily slipped the ball past the exposed goalie at the near post to extend the lead to four. After Katie Muldoon delivered a laser from the right side that the keeper did well to parry, Michaela Bruno closed the scoring for the half, putting a powerful shot under the crossbar to bring the score to 5-0.

The second half allowed the Flash to work on their passing, moving the ball with one or two touches around the field. While not trying to enlarge their margin, the passing led to an inadvertent Syosset hand ball in the penalty area. First half goalie Nicole Derby volunteered to inflict more punishment on her counterpart and came through confidently, drilling the ball into the left hand corner to close the scoring.

The Flash's defense, led by Kerry Defliese, Julia McGuire and Chloe Stapleford built on their performance against Levittown, keeping things tight at the back and earning their first shut out of the campaign for the team's second victory. The team will look to continue their progress next week against last season's D1 champion Massapequa. Go Flash!

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