Clarke Girls Soccer Eliminated from Playoffs

Perhaps the most important strategic decision in Sunday’s first round playoff match between Island Trees and was which side of the field to start on. Having won the coin toss to determine how the game would begin, the Bulldogs captains picked to have the wind at their backs in the second half.

“We chose to go against the wind in the first half, hoping to play them even in the fist half and capitalize on it in the second,” said Island Trees coach Andy Schneider.

It worked. With a brisk, cold wind cutting transversely towards the southeast corner of the field and putting a lid on Clarke’s offense, Island Trees scored twice in the second half and hung on to beat the Lady Rams 2-1 to advance in playoff competition.

The loss marked the second time in a year Clarke bowed out in the first round, and set the stage for a cross-town showdown between Island Trees and Levittown-Division Tuesday.

The contest was a rubber match for the two teams, which had split during the regular season, both by one-goal differentials.

This time around, it looked like anybody’s game, as Clarke came out strong and kept the pressure with a dominating style of play, controlling the ball with crisp passing and aggressiveness to loose balls for nearly the entire first half.

Despite playing without standout Hope Quinonez, the Lady Rams offered up a solid defense with Nicole Wahlig anchoring the middle and a harrying attack led by Abby Trotter and Dina Simonian.

But while the edge went to Clarke in the first half, the score was knotted at 0-0 after 40 minutes and Island Trees came out gunning in the second. The Lady Bulldogs’ aggressiveness paid off at the 14:02 mark, when a bounding lead pass from Olivia Johnston to forward Allie Merrill put the talented Island Trees forward one on one against Clarke goalie Emily Ramos. Merrill got a good foot on the ball, crosscutting the goalmouth for the score.

Less than 10 minutes later, Merrill scored again with a booming shot that went left to right and above the fingertips of Ramos for a 2-0 Island Trees advantage.

With just over five minutes remaining, Clarke demonstrated the grit and refusal to quit that had brought them to a playoff berth. At 3:21, Simonian converted with a banging shot over a line of defenders and past goalie Brianna Ferrara from about 20 yards out that hit the crossbars and caromed in to make it 2-1.

To the last second, the Lady Rams kept the pressure on, still on the attack as the clock ran out on the game and their season.

“It was a well played game by both teams,” said Island Trees Coach Schneider after the game. “We look forward to playing them but we also dread it. The games are as even as it gets.”

“Island Trees is a great team,” said Clarke coach Becky Wechsberger. “It’s always a battle between us. The weather was a factor, but they pushed the game and they’re skillful and tough. Unfortunately for us, it was enough for them to win today. But we’re young and we’re talented. Our team will be back next year.”