GC Girls are Nassau Champs

The girl’s varsity soccer team has had tremendous success over the past five years culminating in State titles in 2010 and 2013 and this year’s team is on a mission to add to the legacy. The girls took an 11 game winning streak into the Championship game against rival South Side, with the last five being shutouts. So playing stellar defense, being aggressive and taking advantage of their opponents miscues has been the approach that Coach Mike Heedles has instilled in this year’s team. And they followed through on that plan and turned it into another County Championship.

A key to this game was also the approach the girls took as they walked on the field, a field that they knew they belonged on and actually a game that they should have been the clear cut favorite. However, facing a team with the legacy that Southside carries from their past success, the GC girls knew they would be in a battle. But even so, with the game about to start the team gathered around captains Kerry Defliese and Chloe Stapleford and hearing Southside go into their standard pre-game chants the Garden City captains encouraged one thing – let’s go have fun!

The first half played out as anyone who saw the first two matches these teams played, two teams battling for possession and trying to create opportunity. The Trojan girls held time of possession throughout and finally had the breakthrough that they needed as they put together several good passes inside the Southside area. Jackie Morris started the play with some strong ball control and vision as she worked her way into the 18 yard box and found Julia McGuire open on the right edge of the box. McGuire calmly controlled the ball and laid it off to defender Kelly Donovan as she aggressively joined the attack and sent a perfect one time cross into the box in front of the goal. As the ball sailed into the box Isabel Klatt deftly alluded two defenders to get her head on the ball and send a perfect shot into the corner of the goal. Garden City had a 1-0 lead with only 8 minutes remaining in the half. And they were having fun.

The second half was a battle of two championship caliber teams with Garden City prevailing in almost every facet of the game. The GC defense stood tall in front of keeper Caroline Peppard with Megan Walsh, Donovan, Megan Seel and Kate Farrell providing back line strength and Katherine Galzerano, Stapleford, Defliese, Morris, McGuire and Emma Wieland controlling the midfield. Holding the edge in time of possession, shots and scoring chances, the Garden City girls were able to complete the shutout victory and take home the Nassau County Championship.

Senior captains Klatt, Stapleford, Defliese and Mcguire were all smiles as they collected the team plaque and hoisted it into the air as they joined their teammates in celebrating the hard fought victory.

Coach Heedles will now have the rest of the week to work with the girls on their next challenge – a match for the Long Island Championship on Saturday November 7th at Adelphi at 5:00.