The last time our girls’ soccer team visited Pierson/Bridgehampton’s Mashashimuet Park was 364 days ago. Behind a hat trick from Michelle Hennessy and a pair of goals and four assists from Donna Liotine, the Bears rolled, 6-1. Today’s result was slightly different, but this year’s youthful squad, though greatly altered from last year’s senior-laden team, showed that they still have the hearts of champions that have guided this program to four consecutive County Championships.

A return to League VIII play was a welcome respite for our girls who played an exceedingly difficult non-league schedule against the likes of Westhampton and Kings Park. The Blue and White lost those games by a combined score of 10-0, results that would fragment lesser teams, but our girls stayed resilient and won out against one of their fiercest Class C rivals.

After a 0-0 first half, it was the vaunted youth of the team that orchestrated the Whalers’ demise. With 14 minutes gone in the second half, eighth-grader Annie Skorobohaty found freshman Daija Rubino for a goal, the first of her career, that supplied all the scoring in a 1-0 win. From there the defense, led by Madison Rylands, made sure the lead held up. Mikaela Stiklickas stood tall in goal, making 6 saves to secure her first career shutout.

Notes

The girls are currently ranked #13 on the New York State Sportswriters Association Class C poll.

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