Parlato's goal gets C. Moriches girls past Mattituck
Center Moriches defender Alexis Parlato, right, takes the ball away from Mattituck midfielder Liz Lasota. Parlato was credited with the only girl in her team's 1-0 win in the Suffolk Class B championship game. (Nov. 8, 2010) Credit: George A. Faella
It was either Alexis Parlato or Claire Brady who scored the goal that won Center Moriches the county championship. Knowing with absolute certainty whose foot it went off may forever be a mystery.
"It was a scramble," Brady said. "Everyone was just shooting and it went in at one point."
"I don't even know," Parlato said. "There were so many bodies and all I knew was we put one in the net."
The confusion surrounding who officially scored the lone goal in No. 1 Center Moriches' 1-0 win over No. 2 Mattituck in the Class B Suffolk County championship at Diamond in the Pines in Coram Monday is indicative of the confusion on the play itself.
During a scramble in the box, Brady took a chip shot that was deflected by Mattituck keeper Jessica McDonald. As the ball caromed over the head of McDonald, bouncing behind her, she jumped on the ball and fell to the ground with her momentum carrying her toward, and allegedly over, the goal line as Parlato charged in. Unaware that the linesman raised his flag to signal that the ball had in fact crossed the line, play continued for about 10 seconds before Center Moriches finally erupted in celebration.
"It wasn't the prettiest of goals," Center Moriches coach Lea Brady said. "However we will take what we can get."
Parlato, who was closest to the ball when it crossed the line, was given credit for the goal.
"It was floating in but I may have got another touch on it," Parlato said. "The goalie was inside the net with the ball so she saved it over the line."
Mattituck supporters were not happy with the controversial call made by the referees, who were working with a three-man system for the playoffs as opposed to two during the regular season.
"When I fell, the ball went back in play because I threw it before I crossed the line," said McDonald, who had nine saves for Mattituck (9-5-3). "I knew my body was over the line and that's why I threw the ball."
Added Mattituck coach Ed Barbante: "It's an absolute atrocity that a call could be made like that. I understand there is a three-man system, and the center official needs to rely on them, but that's a call that you don't make."
Kelsey Glanzman had eight saves for Center Moriches (15-2), which won its second straight county title and advanced to the Long Island championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Dowling.
"I think we just have more experience after the journey that we had last year," Brady said.
