The Xtreme - ready for ice cream! Front row; Shannon Tierney, Laurel "the Fish" Fisher, Sam Miesemer, Deanna DiPierro, Alicia Mueller, Isabel McKeown, Cara Adams, Cailee McCarthy, Joanna Sokolovic.

Last Saturday the U-12 Garden City Xtreme hosted the East Islip Red Devils at the Community Park. The Red Devils are another new team the Xtreme are competing against now that Nassau and Suffolk Counties are combined in the U-12 age group. The Red Devils tested the Xtreme's resolve, coming back to the match on two different occasions. But the team prevailed as Isabel McKeown scored the game winner with less than 4 minutes to give the Xtreme's 3-2 thrilling victory.

As the first half started, the Red Devils came out and pressured the Xtreme all over the field. This took away the possession game the Xtreme like to play, but it opened up opportunities for the long ball. Joanna Sokolovic, Lauren Miesemer and Isabel McKeown were the frontrunners. This speedy and agile group put tremendous pressure on the East Islip back line as they challenged the Xtreme at midfield. Midfielders Kelsey Whitney, Alison Holfester, Sam Miesemer, Lauren Fisher, Shannon Tierney and Cailee McCarthy had many furious battles for possession. Once they won the ball, the midfielders played the ball over the top of the Red Devils back line and sent their forwards in on goal. With 19 minutes into the half, Cailee McCarthy sent a perfectly weighted long ball in from her left midfield position. There, Joanna Sokolovic out raced the Red Devil backs and blasted the ball into the net. In the half, each team had some good scoring opportunities. Shannon Tierney in at goal, turned away every shot she faced for her team.

As the teams took the field for the second half, it was immediately noticeable the Red Devils didn't travel all the way to Garden City to lose. The East Islip team had some large and very athletic soccer players that were all put in forward positions to, at a minimum, tie the match. This put the defenders, Kristin Adams, Jenna Codignotto, Alicia Mueller, Cara Adams and Center back Deanna DiPierro to the test. Lauren Fisher was in goal in the second half. Laurel and her defense had their hands full containing the fierce attack from the East Islip team. As in just about every match, the defense was up to the task. Cara Adams was assigned to mark the most skilled Red Devils attacher. Cara contained this player throughout the half. Kristin prevented the Red Devils from penetrating through the top of the 18-yard box with her quickness to the ball. Alicia and Jenna worked hard to keep the Red Devils wings from getting any quality shots on goal. If the Red Devils did get near the 18-yard box, Deanna was always there to shut down any threats. With the East Islip team pushing forward with all their might, the half became wide open, one counter-attack after another. Eleven minutes into the half, the Red Devils did score on a well-executed corner. Four minutes later, the long ball worked again as Joanna out-sprinted and out-muscled the Red Devils defense to score again. Then 3 minutes later the East Islip team was awarded a free kick that they converted to tie the score. Refusing to walk away with a draw, the Xtreme marched back down the field and connected on a couple of passes. At the top of the penalty area they found Isabel unmarked. Isabel put a touch on the ball and then drove it over the keeper's head for the winner. It was a well deserved victory for the team.