Massapequa tops Smithtown E. for LI 'AA' title
Massapequa's Taylor Elliot (1) with the header over Smithtown's Amanda Connerton (24). Massapequa defeated Smithtown East 2-1. Class AA Girls Soccer Championships between Massapequa and Smithtown East held at The Dowling Athletic Complex. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Combining for the goal that brought Massapequa the Long Island championship was a player whose tenure was about to end and one whose time has just begun.
Just three minutes after Smithtown East tied the score late in the first half, freshman Taylor Kugler sent a cross in front of the net that was knocked in by senior Amanda Reverberi for what proved to be the winning goal as Massapequa defeated Smithtown East, 2-1, Saturday night in the Long Island Class AA girls soccer championship at Dowling Athletic Complex.
"This means everything," Reverberi said. "We've been waiting for this for four years and this is our year, before college. To do this as a team is awesome."
Smithtown East nearly tied the score nine minutes into the second half. Kelly Stumper sent a ball to the flag for Taylor Messina, who crossed it to the front of the net, where it was headed just over the crossbar by Lilla Pellechi. Emmalee Meyer, who had seven saves, later saved Pellechi's header off Caitlin Farrell's free kick with 7:30 left to preserve the win.
"We haven't been back there in five years, so winning the Long Island championship was a huge hill to climb," Chiefs coach Bruce Stegner said. "We've been waiting five years for this and it's just awesome."
Massapequa scored just 2:10 into the game after Stephanie Nelle sent a beautiful crossing feed to Jackie DiMartino, who deflected it inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.
After Meyer made a leaping save to tip Stumper's drive from 30 yards out over the net, Stumper scored after the ensuing corner kick on a beautiful shot from just outside the box.
Massapequa advances to the state tournament, which begins Friday at Cortland, where Reverberi will look to help bring a state title back to Long Island.
"We still need to go with the same effort, knowing we are not going to lose," Reverberi said. "We are going to put everything out on the table and win this."
