Sunday, December 8, 2024
With one overtime in the books and penalty kicks looming in Monday night’s Nassau Class AAA girls’ soccer championship game, Oceanside’s Kaylin Harrington had one thing in mind when she settled a throw-in pass from Molly Boller about 20 yards from the Massapequa net.
“My first instinct was to shoot,” Harrington said. “I knew we were getting close to PKs and I had a little space, so I just shot it.”
It turned out to be the shot heard ‘round Oceanside.
Harrington’s goal 5:35 into the second 15-minute sudden victory OT period gave the Sailors a 2-1 win over the three-time defending champion Chiefs and their first county title since 1978. She was swarmed by teammates at the top of box as a wild celebration followed on the field and in the stands at Farmingdale State College.
“So many emotions are running through my head,” she said. “Our team hasn’t accomplished this in decades and it’s so incredible. We’ve worked really hard all year and it’s a big moment for us.”
The winning goal came less than a minute after Massapequa nearly added to its unprecedented storied history that includes 18 of the past 22 county titles, and 11 Long Island crowns and 7 state championships since 2003. A corner kick off the foot of Kala Mueller was redirected by Juiana Domingo and just missed finding the far post.
“Game of inches,” Massapequa coach Bruce Stegner said. “It was an evenly played game and Oceanside is deserving. We put a young team out there all season and I’m proud of how we answered their first goal tonight and kept battling.”
The Sailors, who tied Massapequa 1-1 Sept. 5 and defeated the Chiefs 2-0 on the road in the rematch 20 days later, advanced to meet Ward Melville or Commack in the L.I. Class AAA championship game Sunday at 5 p.m. at Farmingdale State. Massapequa finished 6-10-2.
“We’ve been working a really long time and these girls get all the credit,” first-year Oceanside coach Danielle Chiera said. “It’s always a battle with Massapequa and we knew this would not come easy. I couldn’t be more proud. It’s a special group and I’m so happy they were able to find a way.”
The first half and opening 11 minutes of the second half were scoreless as both sets of defenders stood tall — Oceanside’s Daniella Cairo, Ryann Zydor, Savannah Castoro, Maddy McMurray and Addison Goldstein, and Massapequa’s Natalie Byrnes, Madeline Ferguson, Hayden Murphy and Nicole Castonguay.
The Sailors (11-5-2) struck first with 28:46 remaining in regulation when Vanessa Frangiadakis headed in a perfect cross from Ava Bowers. The lead was short-lived, however, 3:08 to be exact, as Carly Schuler converted on a breakaway after taking a through ball from Castonguay.
“It was a quick momentum swing for sure, but the girls hung in there,” Chiera said.
Each goalkeeper made 6 saves—Julianna Ewashko for Oceanside and Domenica Rasi for Massapequa.
“We’ve had a longtime rivalry with Massapequa and it feels really good to win it,” Zydor said. “Our team is amazing. We never stop working.”
