11-1-08 NSCHSAA Final: Sacred Heart 2-1 L

The Friars saw their season end on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half, second-seeded Sacred Heart erupted for two goals to outlast No. 1 St. Anthony’s, 2-1, in the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls soccer final Saturday at Adelphi. The Friars (14-5-2) lost in the final one year after winning the state CHSAA title.

Sacred Heart opened scoring off a corner kick. The Friars responded just nine minutes into the second half off a goal by the Jennifer Meier.

The Trojans struck for a 2-1 lead with 27 minutes left. There was plenty of time for the Friars to regroup, and opportunities were there, according to coach Dave Prutting. St. Anthony’s — which played Sacred Heart to a 2-2 tie and a 4-0 win during the regular season — simply couldn’t convert in the final.

“It’s a good season,” Prutting said. “I think we had the talent to have a great season. We came out flat in the final and couldn’t get on track.”

This is Sacred Heart’s second title in three seasons, both at the expense of St. Anthony’s.

10-29-08 NSCHSAA Semifinal 4-0 W

Jennifer Meier had a goal and assist.

After a quiet but cold first half, No. 1 St. Anthony’s heated up. The result was a 4-0 win over No. 4 St. Francis Prep in the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls soccer semifinal on Wednesday night at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington.

Junior striker Rachel Nuzzelese, back from a hamstring injury, helped her teams shake off a 12-day layoff with three second-half goals and an assist. Senior Jennifer Meier, who scored three times in the regular season finale, came back with a goal and assist against St. Francis Prep.

Nuzzelese battled through the St. Francis Prep defense and five midfielders to score on a through ball from Kerri Shannon two minutes into the second half to make it 1-0. She struck again in the 51st minute and the rout was on.

Senior goalkeeper Shannon Cosgrove made three saves to record the shutout.

The Friars (14-4-2), in the league final for the 19th time in the last 21 years, will play for the title at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Adelphi.

 
SCORING
TEAMS………………….1…..2 — FINAL
St. Francis Prep……….0…..0 — 0
St. Anthony’s…………..0…..4 — 4
GOALS — SA: Nuzzelese 3, Meier.
SAVES — SFP: Pratesi 7; SA: Cosgrove 3.

High-Flying Defender

Ariana Aston is the last line of defense.

BY JASON MOLINET

Ariana Aston walked into an area Petco store not long ago and fell in love with a parrot. A Green-cheeked Conure to be precise.

It’s a South American tree-top bird that stands all of 10 inches tall and can live 30 years.

Today, it’s a member of the family. It knows everyone by name – yes, it can talk. Squeaky the parrot even laughs a lot like Aston’s father, Jeff.

In many ways, Aston’s soccer season has unfolded in the same way. She went from under the radar to central figure on the Friars girls soccer team, which just clinched the regular-season Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA title and top seed in the playoffs.

Iconic St. Anthony’s girls coach Dave Prutting had heard good things about Aston as a freshman on the junior varsity a year ago. But he never saw her play until August tryouts and didn’t plan to promote such a young player to the varsity.

Aston made quite an impression. The sophomore from East Setauket didn’t just land a roster spot, she’s the sweeper, the last line of defense for the 13-4-2 Friars.

“She runs the defense and reads the game really well from the back,’’ Prutting said. “I can’t say enough good things about her. We wouldn’t be where we are without her back there.”

Aston was a midfielder on St. Anthony’s championship junior varsity last season. She had played defense in the past and hated it. But in the last year she’s been asked to play back and the position has grown on her.

“There are moments when I need to make the big save,’’ said Aston, her voice betraying her excitement.

What makes Aston perfectly suited to be a sweeper is best understood by stepping away from the soccer field for a moment. Aston ran indoor track last winter, specializing in the 200 and 400 meters, as well as the hurdles. That’s right, Aston is flat out fast – and nimble.

“They are usually the last line of defense they have to anticipate,’’ Prutting said. “They have to be all over the field, strong stamina and good speed. They are going against the fastest players on the other team. She definitely has it all.”

Aston and the Friars’ defense came up big in the finale against Sacred Heart Academy last week. The teams played to a 2-2 tie earlier in the season. In the rematch, Sacred Heart managed just five shots on goals as St. Anthony’s took a 4-0 win.

It’s been quite a year for Aston. It started with the added responsibility of a new pet. Now she’s helping take care of an entire team.

“When I tried out my dad and I expected to make the JV,’’ Aston said. “It was awesome to make the varsity.

“I think it’s a strong defense. We haven’t been scored on many times. I love the girls back there.’’

10-17-08 SACRED HEART 4-0 W

Jennifer Meier scores on a penalty kick against Sacred Heart.

BY JASON MOLINET

Jennifer Meier stands all of 5 feet. When she’s running wild on the soccer field, sometimes the only glimpse of her you’ll see in the midst of a scrum is her long blond shock of hair waving like a flag.

But Meier, as she has so many other times this season for the St. Anthony’s girls soccer team, plays bigger than anyone else on the field. The Friars needed a total effort and Meier delivered a command performance, scoring three goals to power the host Friars past Sacred Heart Academy, 4-0, on Friday night in a battle for first place in the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA.

With under-17 National Team player and teammate Rachel Nuzzelese sidelined with a hamstring injury, Meier provided the offense. The junior forward from Sayville scored her first career hat trick and helped the Friars (13-4-2 overall, 12-1-2 CHSAA) earn the top seed in the playoffs.

“It was senior day,’’ Meier said. “We wanted it so much. It was a night game and we were up for it.’’

She got things started with 15 minutes left in the first half, taking a pass from junior Kate Greer, beating her defender down the right side and firing far corner for a 1-0 edge.

Meier was dragged down just outside the box minutes later. She beat the Sacred Heart keeper to the left on a penalty shot that gave St. Anthony’s a 2-0 lead with 8:54 left.

Cassie Muzik, a junior midfielder from Massapequa, made it 3-0 with 12:46 left in the game. She placed a picture-perfect ball between a defender riding her hip and the fast-charging keeper.

Meier added her third goal — 15th of the year — to finish off scoring with 3:48 left.

“She’s been our leading scorer,” said Friars longtime coach Dave Prutting.

It’s been an imperfect season for a program accustomed to greatness. After all, last fall’s version of the Friars finished undefeated and ranked second nationally.

Injuries to some key personnel have forced Prutting to juggle his lineup and infuse some youth. Yet the Friars are still on pace to win the state CHSAA title for the 18th time in 21 years.

The Friars went a long way toward reclaiming their place at the top Friday night at Cy Donnelly Field. The last time they faced rival Sacred Heart, the teams played to a 2-2 tie. The Spartans (12-1-2) came into South Huntington with a one-game lead in the standings and an opportunity to lock up the top seed.

Instead, St. Anthony’s knocked Sacred Heart from its perch and took the top seed for itself.

The platoon in the net helped. Senior Shannon Cosgrove played the entire first half and senior Caroline Bond spelled her in the second. They combined for five saves and the shutout.

Now St. Anthony’s has 12 days before the semifinals Oct. 29. That’s a lot of time to get healthy and keep getting better as a group. Nuzzelese might even return. If that happens, St. Anthony’s might be an even tougher team to knock off when it matters most.

9-21-08 Bethlehem 2-1 L

The Friars couldn’t finish against Bethlehem. [PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANCI]

BY MICHAEL GANCI

ONEONTA, N.Y. — The St. Anthony’s girls soccer team was unable to make it a perfect weekend in Oneonta as they were defeated by Bethlehem on Sunday by the score of 2-1.

The first half was a seesaw battle, but the opening minutes were definitely controlled by Bethlehem, seventh in the latest state Class AA rankings. The St. Anthony’s keeper was doing all she could to thwart off the attempts, and she was successfully doing that. That was until 11:27 left in the first half, which is when Bethlehem finally broke through.

Kaitlyn Martin found herself in the right place at the right time, and she was able to blast the ball into the St. Anthony’s net. That gave Bethlehem a 1-0 lead. Both teams had plenty of chances as the half progressed, but good intensity in the defensive zone prevented either team from getting any other kind of scoring chances. The first half ended with Bethlehem winning 1-0.

The defensive intensity persisted well into the second half, and with that, the physicality definitely took a step up. Whistles were blown more frequently, and the pace was slowed down. That seemed to play right into Bethlehem’s plans, as they were looking to try to outwait an anxious Friars team.

With 6:19 remaining in the second half, Kristie Link was able to emerge from the pack of players with the ball, and she was able to put the ball into the net for what seemed like the dagger.

As time continued to disappear on the Friars, they seemed more a more frustrated. Bethlehem was content with just clearing their zone, and the Friars had no answer. The only saving grace is that they were able to avoid a shutout with 20 seconds left, when Jennifer Meier was able to put n a rebound. But, for St. Anthony’s it was too little too late.

St. Anthony’s, which entered the weekend ranked third in the state, will look to get back on the right track when they host St. John the Baptist on Monday at 4:15 p.m.

9-20-08 Vestal 2-0 W

Friars forward Kate Greer controls the ball. [PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANCI]

BY MICHAEL GANCI

ONEONTA, N.Y. — For Katherine Higgins, it was all about being in the right place in the right time. And, luckily for her, she happened to be in the right place twice. Higgins led the way with two goals and led the St. Anthony’s Friars to a 2-0 victory over the Vestal Golden Bears on Saturday morning in the first game of the ninth annual High School Hall of Fame Cup on the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s At-A-Glance Field.

St. Anthony’s started the game with momentum, but they were unable to capitalize on various opportunities. About two minutes in, a shot went past the Vestal keeper, but sailed just wide of the net. Shortly after, the Friars had a golden chance, and couldn’t covert. They hit the crossbar and the post on the same drive, yet came up empty.

Through one half, St. Anthony’s was dominating, and they played most of the half in the Golden Bears zone, yet the half ended in a scoreless tie. St. Anthony’s was outshooting Vestal 12-5 through 40 minutes of play. Players were visibly frustrated, but that wouldn’t last much longer.

St. Anthony’s finally broke the deadlock at 5:29 of the second half, when Katherine Higgins received a rebound from a Kate Greer corner kick and spun around and blasted the ball past the Vestal keeper.

“I was kind of lucky,” said Higgins. “I had to trap the ball down and put it past the keeper. It wasn’t easy. I was able to tuck it into the corner.”

After a short push by Vestal, St. Anthony’s was able to take advantage of a Vestal mistake. Higgins was handling the ball and fired it towards the front of the net, and it deflected off of the Vestal defense and went by keeper Meagan Edwards. Higgins was credited with her second goal of the game, and her third of the season.

Vestal did not give up, but St. Anthony’s stepped up their defensive intensity. Vestal only managed one shot against the dominant St. Anthony’s defense in the second half, and that made life very easy for Danielle Singson. Vestal was unable to figure the defense out before time expired, and St. Anthony’s had the victory.

Head Coach Dave Prutting didn’t seem overly impressed with his team’s performance. “For some reason we have been a bit up tight lately,” he said. “I played all 25 eligible players today, and I am glad things turned out the way they did.”

Up next for the Friars will be game two of the Hall of Fame Cup, which will be against Bethlehem on Sunday, September 21, at 11 a.m. on At-A-Glance Field.