All about defense for Massapequa

Massapequa can throw the adage out the window, turn the quote on its head and look at the phrase inside out and backward: For them, the best offense is a good defense.

And not just a "good" defense. It's a soccer defense that let up only four goals all season long, never trailed at halftime and posted 16 shutouts in a 19-0-1 season, using primarily three different keepers and an array of gutsy girls in the backfield and some tenacity in the midfield.

Take primary keeper Emmalee Meyer (67 saves), a sophomore who came to the team two years ago because it couldn't find a netminder that could stay healthy.

"For a 10th grader she has more experience than most seniors have," Massapequa coach Bruce Stegner said. "She's very vocal, and a good leader back there. She's not afraid to voice her opinion."

In 2010 she started each playoff game for the Chiefs - allowing just two goals - and blanked Webster-Thomas in the Class AA state final.

"In past years we'd made it to the Long Island finals. And that was great, because I was put in those positions where you're under pressure," Meyer said. "And this year, I was ready because of that experience."

Star midfielder Amanda Reverberi, a senior who was named outstanding player in the state championship game, was also ready.

"Her heading ability is unmatched," Stegner said. "She's fearless in that regard. And when she gets the ball with her feet, it's rare she loses it."

In the midfield Reverberi was teamed with Tori Malley, who, Stegner estimates, played 90 percent of every game. The duo was a big reason the defense had such a spotless record - the opposing team's offense rarely got possession of the ball.

In the backfield, Stephanie Nelle used her speed to buck opposing players. Jamie Strumwasser had good distribution skills. And Tara Brady was a leader.

"We've been playing together so long, we know how each other plays," Nelle said. "It's a lot of pressure, knowing that allowing one goal can change the game. But we know how to deal with it. We've been in these situations before."

Then there's the case of Tori Lander, who was awarded unsung player of the year by the Nassau Coaches Association. A senior, she tore her ACL as a sophomore and then tore another ACL as a junior in the Long Island championship game. This season she couldn't avoid injury. either, needing 45 stitches in her eye after going for a header in the Nassau semifinals. She came back and played a week later.

"Never during any of my injuries did I ever think to myself, 'I want to quit soccer,' " Lander said. "I wanted to come back and be stronger, better. I never wanted to give up. The next year I could come back and say, 'This is going to be the year we win.' "

So if you get offended by the old saying, "defense wins championships," just look to the 2010 state champion Massapequa girls soccer team. It has some girls who will tell you different.