Baldwin jumps to fast start

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Baldwin finished one game shy of qualifying for the Nassau County Class AA girls’ soccer playoffs last fall, but this season the Lady Bruins (2-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 in Conference AA-II) have come flying out of the gates with two wins and a tie in their first three games.

Despite suffering injuries to several key players throughout the first three games, Baldwin’s deep, talented roster has held down the fort.

“The adversity we’ve faced early with injuries [has been tough] and we’ve had a lot of newcomers,” coach Darius Burton said. “But the way everyone has stepped up overall [has been great].”

The strength of the Lady Bruins lies in its defense, where junior goalie Montia Moon most recently stopped all five shots she faced in a 1-0 victory over Mepham on Sept. 12. Senior Deanna Noonan, slated to be Moon’s backup, is currently out with an injury, so junior Brigette Abrahams saw one half of action in a season-opening 2-1 victory over Long Beach on Sept. 8.

“Her athleticism and instincts are great,” Burton said of Moon, who made her varsity debut late in her freshman campaign.

Senior co-captain Bridgette Jules, the starting stopper, went down with an injury late in the win over the Lady Marines, and in her absence junior Breanna Melendez has stepped up, starting two games in a row. Sweeper Julie Annechiarico, a junior, and outside backs Chrissy Noonan, a senior co-captain, and junior Madison Millwood have all had a hand in the success on Baldwin’s backline.

Junior Malaysia Carson is expected to join the mix shortly after missing time due to injury. “The defense has really stepped up,” Burton said. “It seems like the skill is much better and the goaltending has been great and keeping us in the game.”

When it comes to goals, the Lady Bruins have been boosted by the playmaking and finishing skills of sophomore Maggie Thibault at center midfield.

She scored the only goal of the game in the win over the Lady Pirates, assisted by senior Sarah Pulis and also netted the game-winner against Long Beach on a penalty kick early in the second half. When she isn’t finding the back of the net, Thibault will be teaming up with sophomore Yoselin Benitez at the other center midfield spot and senior co-captain Nicole Sheintul, who moves to the outside after spending time at forward last season. Sophomore Aisling Geraghty is also in the mix.

Midfielder Kaia Harris, the only freshman on the team, had an instant impact in the win over Mepham, locking down the Lady Pirates’ top offensive option and playing 72 of the game’s 80 minutes.

At forward, sophomore Jenna Annechiarico is back after missing last season due to injury and is joined by Pulis, who stands 6-0 and is a big target for her teammates in front of the net on corner kicks and throw-ins. Pulis also has a strong throw of her own in the offensive zone and tallied Baldwin’s goal in a 1-1 tie with Syosset, the defending Conference champions, on Sept. 11.

The Lady Bruins travel to Valley Stream Central on Friday for a 4:30 start following a full week off, and continue a three-game road trip with games at Herricks on Sept. 28, and Syosset on Sept. 30.