Girls soccer: Bobcats edge Indians, 1-0

Written by J.B. Cozens
Thursday, 24 September 2009 07:12

 

With its midfield decimated by injury — with three returning All-Section players out of action — it wasn’t surprising the John Jay girls soccer team struggled in the first half of Tuesday’s game at Byram Hills.

 

Unfortunately, despite a solid second-half effort, it cost the Indians when the Bobcats took advantage of a defensive lapse to score with 5:11 left in the first half, en route to a 1-0 win.

“We started the game with eight players who didn’t start last year or who weren’t even on the team,” said coach Paul Smith, whose team is now 3-2-1. “Given that, what we’ve done is pretty remarkable. A lot of younger players have stepped up. What’s hurting us is cohesiveness. That’s what’s still missing.”

The Indians also scored wins over Valhalla, 4-0, and North Salem, 1-0, last week.

Byram Hills (3-1) had the better of the pressure in the first half, but John Jay reversed things in the second half, picking up the pace of its play.

“We weren’t anticipating. We were reacting,” Smith said of the team’s first-half effort. “We put more pressure on them in the second half. We didn’t have a lot of great shots, but we created opportunities.”

With Zoe Boyd injured again, sophomore Callie Dietrick and freshman Hannah Wear continued to hold the fort in the center midfield area.

“Callie Dietrick and Hannah Wear have done a fine job in there,” said Smith, who also praised the continuing strong play of his back line of Lauren Hafkemeyer, Emily Johnston, Claire Cirillo and Natasha Cucullo.

Kelly Sposato made six saves in goal for John Jay.

Ciara Hautau scored twice to lead John Jay to the win over visiting Valhalla on Sept. 16. Boyd and Nicole Silenok also tallied for John Jay, while Cirillo, Wear and Kelsey Davey had assists.

“It was easily our best attacking soccer of the season,” said Smith. “Great team possession of the ball and we created many scoring chances. Zoe Boyd was distributing well from her center-mid spot, and Ciara Hautau and Nicole Silenok finished well.”

Sposato had three saves to record the shutout.

The Lady Indians came right back the next afternoon and downed North Salem, 1-0, on the road.

Silenok had the game’s lone goal, coming in the first half when she converted off a beautiful feed from Hafkemeyer.

Sposato was strong in goal, turning aside seven shots to record the shutout.

“We prevailed over a tough, seasoned, well-organized North Salem team,” said Smith. “Once again our backs, led by Natasha Cucullo and Lauren Hafkemeyer, thwarted most chances and Kelly Sposato made a great tip over the bar with five minutes left to preserve the shutout.”