Challenging start for Lady Sailors

Losing four straight Conference AA-1 games out of the gate could take a toll on a young team with only two seniors in the starting lineup, but Oceanside girls’ soccer coach Marianna Winchester is optimistic things will turn around.

“We’re having a bit of a tough time, but we’re playing well and were right there in every game,” she said. “I’ve told the girls to be patient and keep working hard. The bounces haven’t gone in our favor, but hopefully they’ll start to come our way.”

The Lady Sailors, who won or tied seven of 12 conference games a year ago and qualified for the Nassau Class AA playoffs as the No. 5 seed, scored first in the conference opener against Massapequa Sept. 10 but fell 2-1 after allowing a pair of goals off corner kicks. Two days later, East Meadow scored the game’s only goal off a corner. Then came a 2-0 defeat against MacArthur, followed by a 3-1 loss to Calhoun.

“We’re working with a different lineup and a different chemistry,” Winchester said. “The girls will feel much better about themselves once they get that first win. It’ll happen, and we’ve always been a stronger team in the second half of the season.”

Junior Risa Zucker scored Oceanside’s first goal of the campaign in the opening half against Massapequa. Opponents are keeping a close eye on junior forwards Julia Duffy and Jules Sicker, All-County and All-Class selections, respectively, Winchester said.

“Julia is getting a lot of attention,” Winchester said of Duffy, who netted six goals last fall including four that tied the game or put the Lady Sailors ahead. “She’s got speed and excellent skills.” Sicker is no stranger to the scoring column, either, and is “feisty and fast,” Winchester said.

In the midfield, Oceanside is loaded with youth aside from senior captain Jaclyn Walsh, a third-year varsity performer. “She’s a gritty player who’s tough to push off the ball,” Winchester said. Walsh works on the outside along with junior Paige McMahon and sophomore Nicole Bermudez. At center-midfield, the sister combination of junior Gabriella Mihale and freshman Alexa Mihale will log the majority of minutes. Gabriella earned All-Class honors in 2013.

Defensively, senior Angelica Cafiero serves as the anchor in the middle of the field. She’s a captain with an All-Conference resume. “She directs everything in the back,” Winchester said. “She communicates very well and can drive the ball up the field and start our transition.” Cafiero is also a weapon on restarts, while sophomore defender Antonia Gigli handles corner kicks. Junior Grace Mueller is off to a fine start at fullback, and sophomore Michelle Lomoz has stepped in nicely at center back.

The Lady Sailors have two capable goalkeepers, Winchester said. Junior Rebecca Cohen served as the varsity backup last season, and junior Melanie Bert was the JV starter. “They’re similar,” Winchester said. “It could be a situation where they alternate.”

The Lady Sailors visit Massapequa on Monday at 4:30 p.m.