John Jay not Fit to be Tied

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After taking an early 1-0 lead versus Hen Hud on Thursday September 12, John Jay looked to be on their way to a win with the lead holding well into the second half. Unfortunately Hen Hud tied the game with 17 minutes to go, and the possibility of disappointment was the prevailing emotion. “We knew it was a winnable game,” said Jordan Kauftheil. “We had so many opportunities.” But with a little help from her friends, the midfielder cleared the slate.

Kauftheil received the ball out front and kicked in the game winner at 8:21.

The game began with Brooke Epstein being sent to the turf, though. She had to cover a pass that meandered to the crease, and after Liv Johnsen cut off a John Jay advance upfield, the midfielder had Epstein diving for the save on the short side.

There the ball mostly stayed until Carly Mangiaracina stepped in. She was able to secure the ball at the 35, and then find Mayer Viders breaking for the sidelines. The midfielder chased down the ball, eluded the defender and her centering pass landed at the feet of Myla Schneider. All alone, the hop was a little awkward, and the shot sailed wide left at 32:03.

A minute later, Hen Hud pulled the next one v one. A turnover at midfield by John Jay ended up the perfect lead pass for Johnsen, and she out ran the defense for a face down with Epstein. But the John Jay goalie didn’t stay back on her heels, and raced up to get the kick save at 31:30

So Viders played the edge again and pushed the ball to the sideline for Abby Mattiello. She waited, and this gave Lila Baker time to add herself to the mix. “We did a little give and go,” said Baker.

Not done with the unselfishness, Mattiello again let the defense converge. On the goal line, the attacker hit the pause button, and passed back for Baker, who blasted away. “She landed it,” boasted Mattiello.

At 29:29, there was still a long way to go, and John Jay wasn’t above making it hurt to add on. Mattiello again streaked the sideline, got the ball inside to a trailing Maya Koronowski, and she went head-on with Hen Hud goalie Avery Motko. Crash, the Sailor absorbed the blow, and came up with the ball at 18:40.

Motko’s work wasn’t done either. Mattiello made a perfect center to the foot of Koronowski, which the goalie covered at 6:54, and three minutes later, Motko found out that she wasn’t just going up against the John Jay soccer team.

On the gymnastics team, Kayla Cambareri did a full flip on the throw-in, and into the foot of Koronowski, the deflection had Kauftheil flying with the header. Bouncing just wide, the crowd certainly got a kick with 3:45 remaining in the half.

Into the second, the junior showed she could do it upright too. Cambareri came up on the sideline, and her footwork took the ball away for Kauftheil in the corner. The subsequent cross did not connect, but the good work had Kauftheil’s praise. “She’s all over. Wherever the ball is, is where she, explained Kauftheil. “Wherever there is space, she’s getting open and creates many chances for us.”

No one off, Cambareri reiterated the point with 28 minutes to go. The midfielder got the steal on the sideline, moved forward, and despite Motko’s cover, it was more unwanted uncertainty for the net minder.

So the Hen Hud offense provided a much needed outlet. The ball got ahead for Johnsen, and she went on the run. All the way into the corner, her perfect cross pass landed on the foot of Bridget Couch, and Epstein had no chance.

17:11 left in the game, fit to be tied was not to be, and John Jay used the whole field to make sure. First, Sadie Walworth took the pass from the bench sideline and scooted a perfect ten yard dribbler for Schneider at the 40.

Turning on a dime, Schneider found Mangiaracina to the left of the goal, and the attacker refused to relent possession. She sidestepped two defenders, and then received the call. “I dropped back, made some space and asked for the ball,” said Kauftheil.

Doing her own dance for control, Kauftheil kicked across the body at 8:21, and that was good enough for the win.