West Islip and Hills East play to 1-1 tie
West Islip defender #22 Matt Bellucci, left, heads a ball away from Half Hollow Hills East's Ryan Gebhardt during overtime. (Oct. 10, 2011) Credit: James Escher
In a game featuring two of the top goal scorers on Long Island it was the goalkeepers who ended up stealing the spotlight.
West Islip's Sean McAllister made 14 saves and Hills East's Jordan Gross made 12 saves as the Lions and Thunderbirds battled to a 1-1 tie in Suffolk League II boys soccer Monday morning at West Islip.
McAllister and Gross each had to make clutch saves during a hard-fought, physical, 100-minute contest between two of Suffolk's top teams.
"You've got to do whatever it takes to save that ball," McAllister said. "You do whatever it takes to prevent the ball from going in. Whether it looks pretty or ugly, you got to do what you got to do."
Gross said he tried to keep his composure once the game went into overtime.
"I try to keep my mind the same track as it is in regulation," Gross said. "I try to keep my focus [and] do everything the same."
Hills East struck first when Robby Reiser scored in the 19th minute. McAllister stopped Reiser's initial shot but the rebound went right back to Reiser who fired the ball into the net for his second goal of the season.
West Islip (5-0-2) forward Sean Sepe scored his 11th goal of the season on a cross from Matt Bellucci to tie the game six minutes into the second half.
"I saw Matt Bellucci dribbling down so I crossed the middle of the field and he played me through," Sepe said. "I tried to hit it as hard as I can and it went in."
After Sepe's goal the intensity and pace of the game rose dramatically.
Hills East (6-0-1) midfielder Jake Freeman, whose 18 points is tied for second-best on the Island, was held without a point but showcased his ability on several occasions. Freeman fired a shot just over the net four minutes after the score was tied, took a hard shot on net in the 58th minute and had several chances in overtime.
"I'm mad I didn't get any points but coming away with a tie definitely is not what we wanted," Freeman said. "It's more about the team effort and hoping for that win. Points will come later in the season."
