Outbracket Friday in Suffolk

The last Friday in October is generally reserved for Halloween parties. In the Long Island soccer community, it’s reserved for Suffolk girls soccer playoff outbracket games.

Four of which willl be played at 2:30 p.m. today, with each team hoping to advance to the first round of the playoffs, which have been pushed back from Saturday to Monday at 2:30 p.m. because of the weather forecast.

No. 17 Comsewogue (6-2-4, 6-4-5)
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No. 16 North Babylon (7-5, 8-7)

Emily Ude (13 goals, seven assists) recorded two late-season hat tricks to help secure North Babylon a spot in the bracket. But Ude and teammates Jessica Eifert, Kelsie Brostek and Kelsey Hart face a difficult task in getting the ball past Comsewgoue keeper Kim Comstock, who had eight shutouts this season. Sloane Lipshie and Dina Cefalu each had three goals this season to lead a Comsewogue team that doesn't typically light up the scoreboard.  But with Comstock between the posts, one goal could be enough. Although, North Bab’s Kelly Heimerle has recorded five shutouts of her own. Winner advances to play at No. 1 Ward Melville.

No. 20 Eastport-South Manor (5-4-2, 5-7-2)
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No. 12 Sachem East (5-5-2, 7-6-2)

Last year Sachem East entered the postseason as the top seed and was bounced in the first round. This year they qualified on the final day of the regular season after a 2-1 win over Connetquot. Their late-season win over West Islip and draw with Northport shows that Sachem East will not be an easy out this year. Lauri Semetsis lead the Flaming Arrows with five goals and six assists and Morgan Tinari added three goals and three assists. Emily Gleason and Dakota Mason each had three goals and two assists to lead an ESM team that got off to a 4-2 start in league play but finished just 1-3-2 in its final six games. Winner advances to play at No. 4 West Islip.

No. 19 Patchogue-Medford (6-6, 7-6)
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No. 14 Connetquot (6-6, 7-7)

The Murino Sister Era wasn’t going to end like that. JoJo Murino returns from an ankle injury to lead an always dangerous Connetquot team in the playoffs. Dawn Hickey led the team with nine goals and three assists and Jess Cordano added four goals and three assists. Erika Flowers scored in an impressive 1-0 win over Sachem North in the final game of the regular season to punch Patchogue-Medford’s ticket into the playoffs. Flowers finished the season with six goals and two assists and Kelly Minicozzi added three goals. Defender Rosa Prestano and keeper Ashley Monzillo will try to shut down the T-birds. Winner advances to play at No. 3 East Islip, who should have Cari Roccaro back because of the playoff schedule change.

No. 18 West Babylon (7-5, 8-6)
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No. 15 Whitman (6-4-2, 7-5-2)

Whitman is no stranger to playoff upsets. Last year the Wildcats won their outbracket game and advanced to the first round where they shocked top seeded Sachem East. Most of last year’s Cinderella team remains intact, led by defender Kelly Powers and keeper Samantha Myers-Dineen. Taylor O’Toole, who had two goals and six assists this season, leads a balanced offense. West Babylon is a young team led by Marisa Garcia and Madison Vasquez, who each scored seven goals.  Christina Esposito added two goals and six assists. Winner advances to play at No. 2 Northport.