Sports
Girls Soccer Cruises in 6-1 Win Over Centereach
Amanda Martinez leads team with two goals, one assist.
The West Islip Varsity girls soccer team started league play at home with a lopsided 6-1 victory over Centereach on Monday afternoon.
The Lions opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Chelsea Weir passed to Molly Ohman who tapped it into a wide open net.
Centereach tied the score at 18:50 with a goal from Jackie Granholm, but the Lions quickly answered. Junior Amanda Martinez crossed the ball from the corner to Colleen Lamberson who finished off the play with a goal. After taking the 2-1 lead, the Lions cruised with four unanswered goals.
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"We put on relentless pressure and took advantage of the wind," head coach Nick Grieco said. "We gave 100 percent effort, put pressure on the ball and scored on our opportunities."
Martinez scored two goals on the day and now has seven goals to lead the team. She showed off her skills on her first goal of the game when, facing immense pressure from multiple defenders, she was able to get some space and bent a shot from the top left of the box into the back right corner of the net.
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"I got a cross and tried to make it around someone but got pushed to the side," Martinez said, "so I just shot it and got it in."
Her second goal of the game was West Islip's sixth to cap off the victory. The Lions are now 5-0, with Monday's first league victory, no doubt the team's biggest of the young season.
"This was huge starting out on the right rack," Grieco said. "We have to get six wins to make the playoffs and opening the season with a win was big. Centereach didn't show it today but they're a tough, competitive team. We caught them on an off day but anytime you open up the season with a win you're on the right direction to make the playoffs and that's what we wanted to do today."
The Lions continue league play on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 4 p.m. when they travel to take on Smithtown East (1-0, 3-1).
"Smithtown East is another tough opponent," Grieco said. "We figure if we play good defense we'll get our opportunities to score. We just have to take advantage of those scoring opportunities."
