Girls Soccer Team Opens with 5-0 Win over North Salem

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On Wednesday September 3, John Jay opened the season versus North Salem and kept the ball in the Tiger zone for most of the first half. The Wolves only managed one goal, though, and when Jennifer Killeen emerged with the ball in front, a tie seemed a distinct possibility. “She made a great diving save,” said Carly Mangiaracina of Brooke Epstein. But the game was still too close for comfort and was the topic of conversation at halftime.

A lot of chances not finding the back of the net, said Mangiaracina, “we had to talk about that,” and four goals later the Wolves proved talk was not cheap in the 5-0 victory.

The girls didn’t wait to get started in the first half, though. Kayla Cambareri worked the corner in the opening possession and centered to Myla Schneider. The middie kicked high but doing dirty work on the edge never deters Cambareri. “There’s something about chasing down the ball. It’s a challenge for me, and if I can beat the defense, we have a chance to score,” said the wing.

The senior proved the point moments later. Kate Kaplowitz led her teammate ahead, and Cambareri did her thing. “Kayla came down the right side, beat two players, crossed the ball inside, and I shot it back right corner," said Mangiaracina.

In at 36:18, the ball continued to see the sun lit North Salem zone, and with 25 minutes left in the half, it was almost lights out for the visitors. Only this time Maye Viders did the chasing, and her loft sailed just high over Ava Cervantes’ head in the crease.

John Jay kept working nonetheless. Cambareri found Schneider over the middle for a shot on goal, Viders put the ball on Cambareri’s foot for a chip shot wide, and Cambareri next made hay for Amelia Inglis on the left.

So the near misses were almost begging for North Salem to make the home team pay, and the Tigers did just that. A lead pass to a streaking Sydney Merriman forced the John Jay defense to kick the ball out of bounds, and North Salem made the most of the throw-in.

10:20 left in the half, Merriman centered into the crease, the ball kicked around, and the scramble found Killeen. She put her foot down but so did Epstein with the diving save.

Of course, John Jay settled for the narrow margin and then readied for the second half. “We talked about keeping up the intensity,” Cambareri revealed, and the Wolves quickly reaped the rewards.

On the bench sideline, John Jay got the ball ahead, Mangiaracina raced past the defense and when the North Salem goalie came out to challenge, Cambareri was all alone at an empty net. Mangiaracina threaded the pass, and her teammate finished the play at 38:40.

John Jay didn’t let up either. After Epstein made a save on the left post, the defense again sent Cambareri streaking nonstop into the corner. Gathering, she scooted the ball to the near post on the goal line, where Mangiaracina never shies from being put on notice. “The way Kayla works, it makes you want to finish,” said the attacker.

The goalie with other ideas came out to challenge, but Mangiaracina won the moment again, and found Sarah Mardon alone in the crease. “I just tipped it in,” said the sophomore.

In command, Viders and Inglis added goals, and John Jay started the 2025 season with an easy win.

Click image for photos versus North Salem and Somers

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