Hayes, Abbate help Northport take over 1st
Northport teammates surround Rosey Hayes (23) (center) after her first of two goals in the second half as West Islip defender Keli Walter (18) reacts. (Oct. 11, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Beware of Tiger attacks.
"We have so many people who can finish,'' Rosy Hayes said. "Our midfield to our attack is amazing.''
Tuesday the Northport Tigers showed just how dangerous they are when forwards like Hayes and Cortney Fortunato and midfielders like Kristi Abbate and Natasha Albaneze are on the prowl. Hayes and Abbate connected for two second-half goals as unbeaten Northport held off a late rally and defeated West Islip, 3-2, in girls soccer to hand the host Lions their first loss and take over sole possession of first place in Suffolk League II.
"This was the hardest game of the season and we knew that coming into it,'' Abbate said. "So we were pumped up for it.''
The chemistry displayed between seniors Abbate and Hayes was indicative of two skilled players who have been teammates on varsity since freshman year, play on the same club team and are also BFFs. Abbate broke free down the middle of the field and sent a cross to Hayes, who was all alone in front of the net and scored to make it 2-0 with 19:02 left in the game.
The duo added another goal just five minutes later when Abbate sent a perfect through ball downfield to setup a breakaway for Hayes.
"We always know what each other is doing,'' Hayes said. "We know where to play it and where to run.''
With Kristin Desmond and the Tiger defense containing a dangerous West Islip offense, the game seemed all but over with a 3-0 lead.
But Amanda Martinez, Long Island's leading goal scorer, quickly responded, knocking in her 16th of the season with 12:08 left. Then after a throw-in by Kelsey Raschke, Martinez sent a cross from the endline to Brooke Kerrigan, who scored to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 5:15 remaining. But the rally fell one goal short.
"We had one or two mental mistakes defensively and good teams are going to capitalize on that,'' West Islip coach Nick Grieco said. "We see it as a little bump in the road."
West Islip (5-1) dominated in the first half but couldn't capitalize, thanks in part to the Desmond-led defense and keeper Jessica Rom, who had seven saves to help preserve the win. "In the back, we talk, we communicate,'' Desmond said. "Our attack takes a lot of pressure off of us but we play great as a team.''
It took the Northport attack just 1:41 to show what it is capable of doing. Hayes sent a pass from the right wing to the middle of the box, where Fortunato settled the ball, turned and fired into the back of the net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead they would take into the half.
"This is a big win," Fortunato said. "We definitely didn't play our best soccer but we hustled and put our all into it.''
The Tigers (6-0) may be praised for their attack, but the attackers say it's built out of the back by the defense.
"We're strong all over," Hayes said. "We really don't have a weak spot. That's what will keep us going.''
