Calhoun rallies past Mepham in AA semis

With just under two minutes of play in last Friday’s Nassau Class AA girls’ soccer semifinal at Tully Park, it looked like fourth-seeded Mepham was about to spoil Calhoun’s undefeated season.

But Lady Colts outside defender Nora Charidah snagged a ball at midfield and lifted it toward Mepham’s goal. Jessica Foley took the pass just in front of the net and drilled a shot to tie the game. In the blink of an eye it was headed into overtime where No. 9 Calhoun would ultimately advance to the finals with a 2-1 win.

Mepham (7-7-2) controlled the first half. Its strong physical style of play seemed to over power Calhoun’s regular finesse. With 24 minutes left in the first half, the Lady Pirates were awarded a free kick. Sophomore Emily Schmitt sent a ball over keeper Alissa Battaglia’s (nine saves) head from 30-yards out to take the 1-0 lead.

Calhoun (16-0-2) kicked off the second half with more aggression than the first as senior standout Kristina Gandolfo constantly tried to break behind Mepham’s back line. Yet the Lady Colts usual style of sending the ball over the top wasn’t working and Mepham was able to thwart most of Gondolfo’s attempts on goal.

“Mepham plays defensively an unbelievable game,” said Calhoun coach Lori Biscardi, who during halftime told her players to adjust their game. In the second half Calhoun began playing to feet and keeping the ball low to the ground. Even with those adjustments, it struggled to find the back of the net.

The Lady Colts seemed to grow frustrated but continued to pressure Mepham’s defense. Biscardi said she reminded her players to leave everything they had on the field. “I told my girls this is our time and just give everything we got,” she said. And in the nick of time, Calhoun finally caught a break with Foley’s goal in the final minutes of regulation.

With 20 more minutes of soccer to play, both Calhoun and Mepham geared up for overtime. Mepham captured a couple of free kicks but Schmitt wasn’t able to lift them into the net like she had earlier. In the seventh minute of the first extra period, Gandolfo made a break behind the Lady Pirates defense. Keeper Alexa Rinaudo (six saves) came off her line to make the save and fouled Gandolfo in the process. With a penalty kick in front of her Biscardi sent senior Mary Hijazi to the line. Hijazi calmly took the shot and confidently sent the ball out of Runaudo’s reach for the eventual winning goal.

The Lady Pirates continued to pressure Calhoun’s defense but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Mepham coach Samantha Foronjy thought her team’s youth combined with added play was too much to overcome. Despite that, Foronjy said she’s proud of her first season at the helm. “I think people underestimated us but we knew what our potential was,” she said. “They played their hearts out and gave it every single thing that they had.”

Calhoun advanced to face No. 2 Macarthur in the final on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Tully Park.