Rebuilt Calhoun sitting at .500

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Calhoun encountered a bumpy road towards the end of the first half of the Nassau Conference AA-1 girls’ soccer schedule, losing to East Meadow and Massapequa following a three-game winning streak to hit the midway point with a .500 record.

“We were hoping to hold our own after graduating 13 players,” said coach Lori Biscardi, who has guided the Lady Colts to three consecutive appearances in the Nassau County Class AA championship game. “I’m happy with how we’ve played,” she added. “We’ve really only had one bad half all season.”

Biscardi said the mediocre 40 minutes came in a 3-0 loss at defending county champion Massapequa on Sept. 22. “We got a little sloppy in the second half, and Massapequa played very well,” Biscardi said. “We’re still working on some things. We just have to keep working hard and be a bit more organized.”

Calhoun’s roster features a large representation of the junior class, including leading scorer Taylor Iacono, Jacqueline Shand and Marianne Cassisi. Iacono has found the net five times and was the first soccer player to score a goal on the school’s new turf field on Sept. 10 when she set the tone in a 3-2 win over Hicksville. “She beats defenders with her speed and has a strong lefty shot and nice crossing passes,” Biscardi said of Iacono, who starts up front with talented freshman Ariel Tillman.

Shand, a returning starter, and Cassisi, who contributed down the stretch last season after a promotion from JV, are seeing time on defense and in the midfield. Shand, said Biscardi, is fast and aggressive and beats opponents to the ball more often than not. Cassisi is composed and skillful.

Versatility is one of Calhoun’s strengths, and senior captain Danielle Losquadro is a prime example having played everywhere on the field except goalkeeper. The All-Conference selection from a year ago is primarily an outside defender. “She’s an extremely hard-working player with great communication skills,” Biscardi said. “She has great speed and plays with aggressiveness.”

Senior Rebecca Woods is a steady defender who’s also been bumped to center-midfield on occasion. A returning starter at stopper, she’s a playmaker in the back, Biscardi said, and tries to push the ball out of the zone with a purpose. Senior Allison Boldis, another vocal leader, is the starting sweeper who’s tough to beat one-on-one and in the air.

In goal, senior Elaina Walley and sophomore Gillian Stapler have basically played a half in each game. They’ve got 21 and 23 saves, respectively, and Stapler picked up a shutout in the opener against Baldwin.

The midfield is anchored by sophomore Lauren Marinello, who gained valuable varsity experience last fall and has two goals and one assist. “Lauren’s a smart player who’s tremendous in the air, and we look for her on corners,” explained Biscardi, who added sophomore Dana Brown is defending well on the outside.

The Lady Colts play their next four on the road before returning home Oct. 14 to face East Meadow.