Girls Soccer: Tuckers, minus Hayes, fall to Port Jefferson
The rain that had been forecast mercifully held off. Port Jefferson’s girls soccer team, however, did not — unmercifully for Mattituck.
Port Jefferson, virtually unchanged from its New York State Class C finalist team of last year, has been going strong this season. The Royals continued their fine run Wednesday with a 3-0 win at Mattituck High School. All three goals — two by Brittany Fazin and one by Clare O’Connor — were scored in the first half of the Suffolk County League VII game. Jillian Colucci assisted on the first two goals.
The final score was a bit harsh for the Class B Tuckers (4-3-1, 4-3), who played for the first time this season without center midfielder Catherine Hayes. Hayes, a junior, suffered a concussion during a game against Center Moriches two days earlier and could be out for a two-week stretch covering four games, said coach Malynda Nichol.
In Hayes’ place, Nichol moved another junior, Amy Macaluso, into central midfield. But Macaluso and her teammates had their hands full against Port Jefferson (7-0, 7-2). The defending league champions moved the ball around well, made the Tuckers work hard and held a 23-4 advantage in shots.
Port Jefferson didn’t wait long to strike. Colucci dropped off a pass for O’Connor, who drilled a shot to the low right, beating goalkeeper Emma Fasolino 2 minutes 7 seconds into the game. It was O’Connor’s 12th goal of the season.
Fazin added goals at 24:00 and 31:03. On the later goal, O’Connor lofted a high free kick into the Mattituck penalty area. Fasolino got a hand to the ball, but Fazin nudged it away and knocked it over the goal line for her 11th strike of the season.
Port Jefferson had a couple of other close ones. After receiving a cross from O’Connor, Colucci sent a shot off the crossbar in the first half. In the second half, a wayward attempt by Olivia Love ended up in teammate Grace Swords’ path on the left wing and she hit the left goal post.
Brianna Scarda and Noelle Zimmermann each played a half in goal, splitting the shutout with a combined three saves.
Photo: Mattituck goalkeeper Emma Fasolino stretches for a Port Jefferson shot that missed the mark in the first half. (Credit: Garret Meade)
