Girls Soccer Advance to Semifinals

Garden City holds the number 1 seed throughout the playoffs by virtue of winning the top conference in Nassau County. But as the girls are quickly finding out, the top seed comes with a target on your back, every lower seed wants to knock them off. The ninth seeded North Shore Vikings were Tuesday’s challengers that came into the match looking to take it to the Lady Trojans.

The Trojans jumped out fast and pushed the ball up the field from the opening whistle looking to create opportunities and they broke through on a strong play from Jackie Morris on the right sideline. Morris fought through two defenders and placed a perfect low shot out of the reach of the Viking keeper, who appeared to be preoccupied by the run of Haley Harder, into the far corner of the goal. The goal put Garden City up 1-0 with a little less than 10 minutes gone in the first half.

Getting out to the fast start was exactly what Coach Heedles was looking for but the next 70 minutes were not. Although the Trojan girls had several opportunities in each of the halves off of set plays, North Shore had equally dangerous runs at Caroline Peppard, the GC keeper, and the GC defense was on their heels at times. But when it counted it was Kelly Donovan, Kate Farrell or Megan Walsh with the strong clear, or Katherine Galzerano, Julia McGuire or Kerry DeFliese playing aggressive defense in the middle of the field.

The victory is Garden City’s ninth in a row and gives them a 10-1-3 overall record.

While beating a number nine seed 1-0 might not feel right, a win is a win and the girls move on to the semi-finals of Nassau County against number five seed Island Trees. The Bulldogs defeated Manhasset, the only team to beat Garden City, 3-2. The game will be played at Cold Spring Harbor at 5:00.