GC Boys Soccer Dominates Sewanhaka

Playing in front of a lively crowd on Senior Day, as well as Homecoming morning, the Garden City boys took to the pitch looking to build upon their three game winning streak. A streak that has seen the boys score eleven times while giving up no goals, a sure sign that Garden City is very good on both sides of the ball.

Sewanhaka came in to the match looking to avenge a tight 1-0 loss to Garden City earlier in the season. The Indians were also intent on trying to get in the win column as they have battled through a tough 0-7 season. Although winless, four of Sewanhaka losses have been by one goal, a sign that the Indians are in most games.

Coach Paul Cutter’s team came out from the opening whistle playing their typical ball-control, quick passing style, calmly waiting for the scoring chances to come. And the chances came often and fast for the Trojans in the opening 15 minutes. There were multiple chances for both Nick Bernieri and Finn Connolly, who both got looks inside the box but couldn’t beat Heli Rodriguez, the aggressive Sewanhaka keeper. And for the first thirty minutes the game remained scoreless.

With continuous pressure on the Indian defense it was only a matter of time for the Trojan offense to put a ball in the net. With a little over ten minutes remaining in the half the Trojans attacked once again down the right sideline and Finn Connolly took a through ball splitting the defenders. Connolly cut behind the inside defender and fired a shot that beat the keeper to the far post for the 1-0 lead.

Without much pressure from the Sewanhaka offense Garden City continued to press for a second goal. Three minutes later the attack came down the left sideline as Luke Menger drove the ball up field finding Bernieri just inside the box. As Bernieri challenged his defender he pushed the ball over to an oncoming Steven Zuniga, who beat two strong challenges by Sewanhaka defenders. And as the three players hit the turf, Zuniga had the second goal for Garden City.

The second half went much like the first, numerous attacks from Garden City that were stopped by an aggressive keeper and very little response from the Indian offense. There were a couple of early chances for Zuniga, Bernieri and Connolly in the opening ten minutes of the second half. The third goal finally came in the 14th minute and it was a beauty. Menger carried the ball uncontested down the right sideline, looked up and chipped a perfect cross that found the head of Finn Connolly. Without breaking stride, Connolly drove a head shot for his second goal of the game for the 3-0 score.

Just minutes later it was Menger again bringing the ball up the field and beating his defender. This time Menger calmly drove a ball through traffic to Marco Russo. Gaining control with a good first touch, Russo squared to the goal and fired a shot into the net. And although the Garden City substitutes continued to attack, the final score was 4-0. Garden City keeper James Castoro, with an assist from backup Alex Fridrich, secured GC's seventh clean sheet.

A tough week ahead for Garden City as they face third place Glen Cove on Tuesday at home, and then travel to Carey to take on the undefeated Seahawks.