St. Anthony's wins second straight state CHSAA AA title
The St. Anthony's girls soccer team celebrates after winning the CHSAA state championship on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 at St Anthony's. Credit: Richard T. Slattery
The St. Anthony's girls soccer team not only won its second consecutive state CHSAA Class AA championship Sunday in South Huntington with a 4-1 win over Christ the King, it also got to celebrate on its home turf.
"It was amazing being able to play on our field for our last two varsity games," Kayla Arestivo said. "It's an honor being able to play here and we are so happy we came out with the win."
Francesca Venezia scored two goals for St. Anthony's, including the one that gave the Friars the lead for good.
It wasn't easy early, as Christ the King's Kiana Leger scored on a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box five minutes in.
"I think it's always a little nerve-wracking when you go down early in the game," Arestivo said. "But we knew we had a lot of time left and we were confident that we would come back."
The nerves didn't last for long as the Friars put consistent pressure on CK goalkeeper Kimberly Moreira and dominated possession throughout.
Morgan Lulley and Sabrina Cristodero each had early point-blank chances that Moreira turned away before Arestivo tied the score with 16:18 left in the first half. "It's much easier to get the nerves out early when you are able to keep possession of the ball," Arestivo said. "It allows you to settle down and play your game."
Venezia scored on a penalty kick with 8:05 left in the first half and Miranda Ozimek broke the game open eight minutes into the second half after taking a through ball from Arestivo and juking the keeper after getting in tight.
"We knew that once we got into a rhythm and flow and we played our game that we would come away with a good result," St. Anthony's coach Susan Alber said. "Luckily, we scored the goal to tie it and then we put it all together and played the way we should.
"Our goal the whole year was to win states and build on last year's championships. To be at home and win it in front of our fans on our home turf and for our seniors to play their last game here is an amazing accomplishment."
Venezia finished the scoring after volleying in a cross from Ozimek with 31:08 remaining.
"From the beginning, being state champs again was our goal," Venezia said. "We were going to do anything it took to be back here again, and we did."
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
