Plainedge girls soccer makes statement win over North Shore
Samantha Zaccaro of Plainedge gets to the ball ahead of Kashvi Bhogadi of North Shore during a Nassau Conference AB-I girls soccer game on Thursday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
History had a way of repeating itself on Wednesday night as the Plainedge girls soccer once again scored a 4-1 win over North Shore in a Nassau A/B-I home matchup — the same score that separated the two earlier this season.
“I think we turned it up right up front and made a statement,” assistant coach Jairo Chicas said. “We changed up our formation a little, and it worked well for us.”
Junior midfielder Sam Zuccaro opened the scoring for the Red Devils, finding a gap through North Shore’s defense and finishing off a corner kick.
“I saw the ball land at my feet, and at practice we always work on shooting at the corners,” Zuccaro said. “So I was able to just place it in.”
The next two goals came on penalty kicks — one from junior Michela Netto and another from freshman Jaclyn Frucci — giving Plainedge a 3-0 lead by halftime.
With just under 11 minutes remaining in the game, junior Avery Peters sent a powerful shot from outside the box, putting the Red Devils up by 4.
It wasn’t until there were just over eight minutes left in the game that the Vikings were able to get one in. Erin Lily La Rosa converted a corner kick for North Shore (4-7-1). Viking goalie Charlotte Healy made six saves.
The Red Devils’ defense has recorded five shutouts this season and allowed just 11 goals, while scoring 38 of their own.
“Our priority on defense is locking down our opponent's main threats,” senior defender Gisselle Gonzalez said. “We practice hard on making the little stops, and seeing that happen when it’s game-time, and then it leading to a play on offense, that’s the best feeling.”
Plainedge (9-2-1) has dropped just two games this season, both one-goal losses to Wantagh. With playoffs around the corner, head coach Mike Vitale believes this group has what it takes to make a deep run.
“I’ve coached for 27 years now in this district, and this, by far, is the most talented team,” he said. “They work together extremely well.”
For Gonzalez, after falling in the quarterfinals last season, the motivation is simple.
“After last year, we knew we were going to come back and make it as far as we can,” Gonzalez said. “I think this team has the talent and the motivation to make it all the way to states.”
