The St. Anthony’s varsity girls’ soccer team closed the season with two shutout wins. On October 16th the Friars beat Kellenberg 3-0, and followed the win with a 2-0 victory against Sacred Heart on October 18th. The victory against Sacred Heart secured first place for the Friars heading into playoffs.
In the Kellenberg match, Samantha Adams, Brianna Passaro, and Lauren Hackett each scored a goal, and goalkeeper Victoria Eisenberg had six saves. Against Sacred Heart, Brianna Passaro, and Gianna Russo each had a goal. Goalkeeper Vanessa Cole had five saves against SHA. The Friars’ backline and goalkeepers have recorded 9 shutouts, with 7 in a row, only allowing a total of 4 goals on the season.
The shutouts bolstered the Friars’ current ranking: #8 in the Tri-state and #1 on Long Island by News 12 Varsity. The team finished their season with an undefeated record of 13-0.
Brianna Passaro, one of the league’s top players and goal scorers, explained how it felt to score the only goal in the first matchup against Sacred Heart Academy, last year’s NSCHSAA Champions. Brianna said scoring the only goal in that game was “a feeling she will never forget” and explained the team came out on the field with “such enthusiasm.”
“Seeing [the team’s] happiness made scoring even better,” Passaro continued. This is what Passaro wants: to be the player on whom the team can always rely. “I always try to put the ball away in those close situations,” said Passaro, which she hopes has earned her teammates trust.
Goalkeeper Vanessa Cole, one of the team’s most vocal leaders, declared that the “Friars are coming for revenge.” Cole said, “it was a great feeling to shut out Sacred heart twice this season”—the team that scored their winning goal on Cole during last year’s league championship. Vanessa admits the games between these two teams are “very personal.”
Gianna Russo, who scored the put away goal against Sacred Heart with 3:04 minutes left in the game, said it felt “great to put away [SHA] and great to have my family and friends there to cheer me on that day.”
The team, though currently first place, believe they can get better going into playoffs. Coach Sue Alber said that “the team will be focusing on different aspects of their game that still need improvement.” According to Alber, the team is focusing on “preparing mentally and physically to play their best, attacking movements with 3 center midfielders and center forward, attacking in wide channels with outside backs, and wingers and focusing on transitions.”
Playoffs begin on Friday, October 27th, 4:30 p.m. at CY Donnelly Field. Come cheer on the Friars as they take on St. John the Baptist High School.
About The Author:
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Alex Rocco Alex Rocco is a sophomore at St. Anthony’s High School. He hopes to have a career in Sports Management one day. During his sophomore year Alex looks forward to supporting St. Anthony’s Athletes while writing for the St. Anthony’s Friar Scoreboard. |
