With a tough non-conference 0-1-2 start to the season, Wantagh rebounded and changed the way their season was headed. The Wantagh girls’ varsity soccer team took routed Island Trees 4-1, September 17. MSG varsity taped the game so the nerves were up and so was the intensity.

Island Trees has always been a tough opponent and the Warriors being winless, at this point, really wanted it. The game was fast and aggressive. A little before halfway through the first half, Julianna Kissane took a shot to the bottom right corner and scored. The game only got quicker and more intense. The first half ended with a score of 1-0, Wantagh.

A couple minutes into the second half the Bulldogs scored. “Luckily we didn’t get down on ourselves we didn’t lose hope we only wanted more,” defender Ally Murphy said. Not that long after Nikki Sliwak scored giving Wantagh a 2-1 lead. Darcie Smith did a great job of winning the punts and 50/50s. Off of a cross from Jackie Corbin, Chelsea Kingston scored making it 3-1 Wantagh.

The Island Trees players grew frustrated. They were pulling jerseys, everyone was pushing and shoving. To finish it off Kaitlyn Cerasi scored after getting bodied by an Island Trees player to make the final score of 4-1. Wantagh’s defense did a great job of working together and covering each other. Amanda Lynch, Ally Murphy, Julia Fazio and Gab Pascione did a great effort to shut down the Island Trees forwards. Juliana King did a great job in goal by making ideal saves to make sure we got the win we needed. She had a total of 5 great saves this game to make sure Wantagh got the win it needed.

The Warriors pushed all the way to the end and gave everything they had. “They were tough and aggressive we didn’t let that get in our heads though, we played our game and got the outcome we deserved,”Amanda Lynch says. The girls did a great job and hope to continue their season with games like this.