Rebecca Reifler cuts ahead of opponent just before scoring one of her three goals! Last Saturday the Garden City U12 Patriettes opened their Long Island Junior Soccer season with a game against the Port Washington Stingers. No one expected the game to go on as scheduled due to the impending storm. However, it was the Patriettes who came out like a hurricane. The girls began the game with determination and focus and kept pushing the ball forward into the Stingers side of the field. The strong passing of the forwards, Claudia Caracciolo, Caitlyn Kaczynski, Erin Rode helped their teammate Becky Reifler score a hat trick to give the Patriettes a 3-0 lead with the first 15 minutes of the game. Ensuring the important center of the field was always under control Maddie Stone, and Margot McTiernan helped control the midfield. In the latter part of the half fellow midfielder, Mary Kate Kenny, made a strong move up the sideline and fired a strong shot on goal. All the goalie could do was to bat the ball away and at that point Kelly McDonnell followed the rebound and put the ball in the back of the net. This gave the Patriettes a 4-0 halftime lead. The second half opened up with the Patriettes wanting to keep the heat on the opponents. Most important was to ensure there were no opportunities for the Stingers to get back in the game. Alexis Leighton, Annie Kane and Christie Pflume worked hard on defense to keep the opponents out of the Patriettes side of the field. If the Stingers did push the ball thru or send a long pass, Laurel Nothel was there in goal to stop all the balls and secure the shutout. During the second half, Julia Biscardi from her midfield position and Isabel Balady, from inside forward made strong and crisp passes leading to goals for Jillian Curtin and Jillian Gregory. The whistle sounded to end the game and the Patriettes had won their first game of the season in convincing fashion. Congratulations girls and good luck Saturday in your home opener.

Laurel Nothel maintains control as a Port player puts the pressure on.

Erin Rode is quick and focused as she cuts in for possession.