Positive start for East Meadow

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Even on a day when its offense was unable to finish, East Meadow stretched its unbeaten streak to three games — all on the road — in Nassau Conference AA-I girls’ soccer by settling for a scoreless draw at Hicksville on Sept. 13.

Sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski posted her third shutout of the season for the Lady Jets (3-1-1 overall), who appear to be reaping the benefits of hard work and success throughout the summer.

“I like to think there’s some level of carryover from the offseason into the regular season,” East Meadow coach Adam Hananel said. “We’ve got a great group of girls who really enjoy being around each other. Every game is a battle in Conference I, but when we’re clicking we can be really tough.”

Putting the ball in the net has been a grind in recent years, Hananel said, but the offensive outlook for 2017 seems promising to say the least after the Lady Jets defeated Port Washington, 2-0, and Calhoun, 3-1, in their first two conference games. “We’ve struggled to score goals in the past, so it’s nice to get off to a strong start offensively,” he said. “We just want to be consistent and keep getting better.” 

East Meadow features an interesting mix at forward with senior captain Vittoria Fuduli and freshman Myla McLeod. Their instant chemistry was on display, Hananel said, at Calhoun on Sept. 11 when they worked a give-and-go for the team’s second goal to take the lead for good. Both of them scored at Port Washington.

“Myla’s a threat at all times,” Hananel said of McLeod, who scored once against Calhoun and assisted on goals by Fuduli and junior Rachel Rose. “She’s not only been able to score, but she’s also shown the ability to create chances for others. She’ll continue to mature and grow as opponents try to lock her down and take her out of her game.”

Fuduli, a four-year member of the varsity, brings a rare combination of size, strength and speed. “She attacks well and put pressure on a defense,” Hananel said. 

At the opposite end of the field, East Meadow’s defense has been stingy while playing in front of someone Hananel believes is among the most talented stoppers in Nassau County. Sparkowski is already in her third varsity campaign and serves as a captain.

“Everyone playing in the back has so much confidence with one of the best keepers in the county behind them,” Hananel said. “Stephanie is a team-first player all the way and has all the tools. She’s tall with great hands and great footwork. It’s almost like having a second sweeper out there. She has the freedom to make a lot of decisions.”

Junior Kayla Leary is the defensive anchor and brings excellent instincts and poise. Senior Katie Hernandez and junior Mary Boyle are returning rock-solid starters, while Rose and freshman Scarlett Espinosa hardly come off the field at either fullback or outside midfield.

Senior captain Alexa Turnbull, crafty sophomore Alyssa Vega, and juniors Taylor Keicher and Cristina Pavon are holding down the fort in the midfield.

“If we stay healthy, we can play with anyone,” Hananel said.