Jessica and Sara Bernstein a good combination for Plainview JFK

Scoring runs in the family for Jessica and Sara Bernstein. They showed what they're capable of as a duo when they scored four goals on Monday in Plainview JFK's 5-0 victory over Great Neck South.

Jessica Bernstein may be only a ninth-grader, but she achieved something that would be rare even for a senior -- a hat trick.

"It was a really good feeling,'' she said. "I thought, I'm a freshman and I just scored three goals.''

And how did senior captain Sara feel about her younger sister's hat trick?

"It was amazing,'' she said.

Jessica grew up playing soccer with her older sister in the backyard, and she began playing varsity for Plainview JFK last year as an eighth-grader.

"The future is really bright for Jessica,'' coach Jodi Horowitz said. "Scoring her first hat trick shows how much talent she has.''

Sara plays defense, but she converted a rare scoring opportunity when she received a near-perfect corner kick from teammate Jenna Fishelberg and finished with a header directly into the net with 15 minutes left in the game.

The elder Bernstein already has been drawing college interest and will be missed. "Losing Sara will be devastating to us defensively,'' Horowitz said. "She's one of the best players I've had in my 15 years of coaching.''

The Hawks still will have Jessica for the next three years, and she could become the first Plainview JFK girls soccer player to start for five straight seasons.

Horowitz said she likes to set up certain plays to make sure that Jessica and Sara get the opportunity to connect, and she hopes to see more scoring chances for the Bernstein sisters. Said the coach, "They're absolutely perfect together.''