Baldwin works through adversity

The injury bug has hit Baldwin’s girls’ soccer team, leading to a 1-6-2 record through eight games. Though the slow start isn’t what anyone would want, there’s one bright spot that shines in the darkness of the Bruins’ season; Senior two-time All-Conference award winner and captain goalkeeper Dee Ikechukwu has done everything in her power to keep them competitive.
“She’s a very good goalkeeper,” coach Lee Rogers said. “It’s good that we have something there to back up the defense. She’s been suffering with injuries, which is the first time for her. The experience she has being a five-year player and she has a vision in the back to be able to see everything that’s going on in the field in front of her to guide everybody.”
Ikechukwu enters this week second in Nassau County in saves with 98, as she averages just over 10 saves per game. She stood on her head against East Meadow on Sept. 10, as she saved a season-high 21 shots in a 1-1 draw. Ikechukwu tallied 14 saves in back-to-back games on Sept. 3 and 5 against Roslyn and Kennedy, respectively. Baldwin lost those, 2-0 and 2-1, respectively.
The Bruins’ lone win came against Hicksville on Sept. 2. In the 3-2 victory, freshman midfielder Olivia Lazo netted her first goal.
Rogers leans on three senior captains, Ikechukwu and defenders Akua Bonsu and Amanda Aguiluz, to keep the spirits high. Against New Hyde Park on Sept. 16, Aguiluz scored both goals in a 2-2 draw.

“Amanda came up and scored off two corners against New Hyde Park,” Rogers said. They [Aguiluz and Bonsu] tend to hold down the defense. They both play right in the middle. They’re guiding the younger players into where they should be.”
Despite the season Rogers’ team has endured so far, in games the Bruins have lost, they’ve fell by two goals or fewer besides the 3-0 loss against Farmingdale on Sept. 13.
“We’re trying to win more balls in the midfield, that would make a big difference,” Rogers said. “We’ve been working on that in practice, just trying to create more opportunities out of the midfield by gaining possession. Things were close, it was right there in every game. I think it’s a matter of getting everybody on the same page and just working together a little more and it comes down to finishing and getting our shots off.”
Other major contributions to Baldwin’s season have been junior midfielders Lizzy Hill and Aubrianna Neira, freshman midfielder Kristen Chrichlow and freshman forward Leila Antoine.
In addition to them, freshman central midfielder Kristen Hester has “done well” for Rogers.
“We lost to Herricks 3-1, but she came up with the goal right towards the end,” Rogers said. “It was nice to see her from how we started that she’s improved already. Hopefully she carries that on through the rest of the season.”
Baldwin is back in action Oct. 7 when it hosts Division at 5 p.m.