Lady Bruins split first four

Playing its annual game under the lights at home, Baldwin’s girls’ soccer team squandered a two-goal lead last Saturday evening and settled for a 2-2 tie with Nassau Conference II rival Port Washington.

“Hopefully this game doesn’t come back to bite us in the end,” Lady Bruins coach Darius Burton said. “With three points for a win and one for a tie, we definitely let a few points slip away.

“We’re playing well and had ample scoring opportunities every game,” he added. “We need to do a better job finishing.” 

After sophomore Ayanna Smith scored twice for Baldwin in the first half, converting passes from senior Elizabeth Eberhart and junior Ashley Sobel, Emily Rosenthal and Juliana Beall answered for the Lady Vikings in the second half.

The deadlock was the second in four conference games for the Lady Bruins (1-1-2), who came back from a pair of one-goal deficits against county Class AA runner-up East Meadow in the conference opener. “We had a good day against a very good team,” Burton explained. “The girls played hard and battled back twice.”

Senior N’Dea Johnson, a four-year varsity player headed to the University of Buffalo, scored both goals in the 2-2 tie with the Lady Jets and leads Baldwin in scoring with seven points (four goals, three assists.) Johnson is spending the majority of games at sweeper this fall, but Burton said he wouldn’t hesitate to push her to midfield or forward when the offense is in need of a boost.

“She’s strong on the ball and knows how to use her body to shield it,” Burton said of Johnson, who also handles most of the team’s free kicks. “Although we can use her up front, I feel she’s more valuable on defense.”

Smith, who battled injuries a year ago, has provided an offensive spark in her first varsity campaign. She leads the Lady Bruins in goals with five and had both tallies in a 2-0 victory at Herricks on Sept. 22. “She has breakaway speed and is dangerous on through balls,” Burton said. “I’m very happy with what she has given us so far.”

A rotation at the other forward spot remains in the works with seniors Melissa Privil and Raquel Mitchel, junior Nicole Gardianos and sophomore Keri Seeger seeing action. All four have picked up assists.

The midfield features junior Allie Rodgers and sophomore Nikkia Bellovin in the center and Eberhart and Sobel on the outside. In addition to Johnson, seniors Michelle Ventimiglia and Lauren Rhoden, and sophomore Jessica Mouradian start on defense. Mouradian is a returning starter who will get one of the toughest assignments each game. 

The coach plans to “ride the hot hand” at goalkeeper. Junior Amber Harrison (20 saves) and senior Gina Passaretti (11) are both doing a fine job, Burton said.

Four of the seven teams in Conference II will advance to the playoffs. Baldwin reached the postseason in 2009 with a record of 4-4-4 and lost to Mepham in the first round. “Our goal is to get in,” Burton said.