Opportunity knocks, Jessica Patanjo answers with goal in Connetquot girls soccer's win over Lindenhurst
Jessica Patanjo of Connetquot, left, is all smiles after scoring the first goal of the game in the second half of a Suffolk Division I matchup against Lindenhurst on Monday in Bohemia. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
The opportunities were there, the shots just weren’t finding the back of the net.
When the best chance presented itself, Jessica Patanjo made it count.
Melanie Bub unleashed a shot from 15 yards and Natalia Pacholska made her eighth save of the game, but the ball bounced just out of her reach. Patanjo was there for the rebound.
Patanjo tapped in the first goal of host Connetquot’s 2-0 win over Lindenhurst in Suffolk Division I girls soccer Monday night.
Patanjo missed a few shots in the first half, including some rebound opportunities. She cashed in with 22:28 remaining in the second half.
“After missing a lot of rebounds in the first half, I knew I had to put one away,” Patanjo said. “When that shot went up, I knew I was going to have a chance, so I had to go and put it in the back of the net. The atmosphere playing under the lights with everyone here watching, it’s just such a special moment.”
Coach Ran Cavanagh said, “Before we even got to the half, I talked to her and I just said, ‘Composure. Take a breath. Finish the shot.’
“Composure was the word for everyone. We might have played the best half of soccer we‘ve played all season, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t score. Then they came out and played a flawless second half.”
The T-Birds improved to 12-2-1 overall and 12-2 against Division I opponents. With Commack’s win over Ward Melville on Monday, the T-Birds became co-league champions with Commack and Sachem East.
Five minutes after Patanjo broke the ice, Leigha Mackin ignited the crowd. Mackin took a pass from Megan Ryan just inside the 18-yard box and swung her left leg, unleashing a missile to the bottom left corner of the net for a goal with 17:02 remaining.
“I had a really nice first touch and I saw the opening, so I was like, ‘Why not just shoot it?’” Mackin said. “I’m not a lefty, but I sent it towards the bottom corner and hoped for the best.”
Pacholska made 10 saves for Lindenhurst (4-8-1).
It was Connetquot’s final game of the regular season and it was Senior Night. The T-Birds honored 15 seniors before the game. Cavanagh made sure all of his seniors got in the game early, especially the ones that haven’t seen much playing time. He was thrilled with their efforts in the first nine minutes of the game.
“They were supposed to go five minutes but we let them go nine because they were playing outstanding and they got a great shot on goal,” Cavanagh said. “You have kids that show up six days a week that don’t play many minutes, if at all. They work their tails off just for their few minutes out there. They made Connetquot very proud tonight.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
