The New Hyde Park Tornado Tigers Girls U13 soccer team left Mitchel Field with the second place trophy’s after a very competitive day of soccer at the North Hempstead Cup.
After two highly entertaining tie games the Tornado Tigers beat Auburndale 3-1 to take second place.
The Tornado Tigers battled tough all day losing, Hannah Arkin and Natalie Schleuck for the second half of Game 2 with injuries after losing midfielder Maggie Donnelly in Game 1, Maggie left with strep throat. Arkin and Schleuck iced and taped in between Games 2 and 3 then each played outstanding in Game 3 to secure second place.
Karina Gotz scored two goals in the final game including a highlight-reel goal to cap the scoring for the day. Gotz just outworked multiple defenders then scored on an amazing left foot kick as she neared the end line putting the ball off the opposite post and in. Gotz scored earlier in the game on a very nice play that included excellent passes from Arkin and Mariella Facibene. Arkin scored the go-ahead goal in the deciding game.
Schleuck was awesome at center midfield playing the entire game on an injured hip and dominating the middle of the field. Milla Skugor filled in briefly in goal after an injury to goalie Mariella Facibene and Skugor made an outstanding save to preserve a one goal lead. Facibene made three breakaway saves in the second half and was outstanding in goal all day.
In Game One the Tornado Tigers tied Wantagh Crusaders in a very evenly played 0-0 tie that included an outstanding point-blank save by keeper Debra Keller. Keller had a terrific all around day playing keeper, midfield and forward. Danielle Gerbe had an excellent game on defense and Maya Castro was terrific at midfield.
The second game was the most exciting game of the day as New Hyde Park battled to the end for a 2-2 tie with eventual first place finisher Bohemia.
New Hyde Park had a 2-1 lead at halftime but lost Arkin and Schleuck to injuries. Arkin scored both goals before being injured, one on a penalty kick and the other on a crossing pass from Gotz that Hannah knocked in with a nice tap in from in front.
Several players had outstanding games for the Tornado Tigers as the team played shorthanded. Defenders Kim Keblish and Abby Wizel were awesome as they played the entire game stopping the talented forwards from Bohemia. Kristen Granieri had a terrific game at forward pushing the ball deep several times for NHP. This game was a true team effort as the girls played their hearts out to preserve the tie and stay in the running.
Forwards Andrea Castro, Emma Blancher, Natalie Kariotis and Julia Gordon battled all day to keep pressure on the defense. The team also played without Nicole Farishian who was unavailable for the holiday weekend.
The Tornado Tigers are now 5-0-2 on the season and have outscored their opponents 23-4.
