VSC takes conference title

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Valley Stream Central was prepared for an Oct. 16 showdown with Uniondale for the top spot in Nassau Conference AA-III girls soccer, but the game took on a different meaning for the Lady Eagles after they locked up first place 24 hours earlier.

“We weren’t expecting Freeport to beat Uniondale,” VSC coach Mike Caputo said. “Our girls are really excited about winning the conference and going to the playoffs. It took a little pressure off the Uniondale game, but they still wanted to finish undefeated in the conference.”

Junior Jen Oliva had a goal and two assists, and senior goalkeeper Crissy Lazaridis made six saves for her fifth shutout of the year as the Lady Eagles posted a 3-0 victory.

Central notched a huge 3-2 come-from-behind win at Uniondale in the first meeting between the teams on Sept. 29. Trailing by a goal with less than 10 minutes remaining, senior Gabby Mendoza notched the equalizer and set up senior Priscilla Bell for the game-winner. Senior Devin Baratto opened the scoring for the Lady Eagles, who will be seeded No. 12 in the county Class AA playoffs and face the fifth-place finisher from AA-I this Saturday.

“We always seem to have a tough time with Uniondale at their place,” Caputo said. “We lost their last year. They’re a well-coached and physical team that doesn’t take any plays off.”

Central (10-1 OR 9-2 overall) hasn’t played a one-goal game since visiting the Lady Knights. Caputo said both games against Freeport were “intense as usual,” and the first meeting Sept. 16 was scoreless at halftime before Mendoza, Bell, junior Nataly Aguirre and sophomore Isabella Gandasegui scored in the second half to highlight a 4-1 victory. Bell and Aguirre scored in the rematch, a 2-0 win at Firemen’s Field on Oct. 6. Senior Yan Chen filled in for Crissy Lazaridis and made eight saves for the shutout.

“The biggest thing about our team is anybody can score,” Caputo said. “That’s what makes us so dangerous. We get contributions from everywhere on the field.”

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