John Jay Settles for a Tie at Somers

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On Monday, September 15, after Lily Mazzella gave Somers a 1-0 lead with 33:21 left in the half, Coco Inglis answered 70 seconds later, and the rivals seemed headed for their second tie in two years. So when a pack of Wolves got behind Olivia Tatela in goal, the short road trip seemed ready for celebration.

“We just couldn’t put it away,” said coach Dave Nuttall, and the day ended in a stalemate.

The first half, on the other hand, tipped most of the play in the Somers end. Maya Viders did the first honors by crossing a pass to Kayla Cambareri, but Tatela beat the Wolf to the point.

Moments later, the elephant and the canine had the crowds do a double take. With the intercept at midfield, Lila Baker poached the ball ahead to Hayley Frantz, and her pass had Cambareri losing the foot race again at 35:50.

One more time, Mykel Papa and Myla Schneider sent Tatela on her horse moments later. But the Tusker was a sitting duck when Viders, Carly Mangiaracina and Cambareri hit all three sides of the triangle.

Before crashing to the ground on the sideline, Viders got the ball over to Mangiaracina and Cambareri was left with a perfect lie on the pass. Unfortunately, the wing’s chip shot went wide, and the scoreboard remained unblemished with 25 minutes remaining in the half.

Of course, Somers came to play too, but Matea Milich was there three times to break up Tusker advances. No stopping, the home team’s best first chance came when Isabella Wissa stopped Cambareri at midfield and got the ball ahead to Mazzella.

Now, it was Brooke Epstein who was off to the races. Coming way out, the goalie’s decision left the net empty. But Wissa was not able to get a full foot on the ball, and the defensive cover had Epstein giving props. Audrey (Oestreicher), Lyla Baker and Mykel (Papa) are always perfect on the ball,” said the stopgap.

Epstein was done over reaching, though. Three times in the next few minutes, the senior seriously strayed and crossed the finish line first each time. “Since I’m the one with the hands, I know I can get there first,” explained Epstein.

Somers tested the limits nonetheless, and Epstein had no problem when Oestreicher and Milich lent a foot or two. Multiple stops, the defense kept Somers at bay, and the teams went into intermission with the nets empty.

But it take long after intermission for the crossbar to make a new friend. Lily Mazzella fired from the right in the opening minute, and clanged the metal. Two minutes later, the tall Tusker gave Epstein company too, and the goalie made a leaping grab to keep donuts on the scoreboard.

John Jay’s turn, Viders crossed the ball to Cambareri and a one v one with Tatela looked like the Wolves were about to take a bite. Unfortunately, the opportunity went high, and Mazzella made their guests pay on the other side. The ball came out front to the senior, and her fade beat Epstein in the left corner.

At which point Coach Nuttall implored his girls to keep their heads up, and Viders on his side, his message had a leg up. “She terrorizes defenses,” he said, and streaking down the sideline, the freshman crashed in a heap.

Somers whistled for the pile up, Viders teed off, and Inglis did the rest at 32:09. Even so, the middie assigned credit elsewhere. “It was the kick,” she assured.

Her teammate didn’t necessarily agree. “I miss hit it,” said Viders. “There was a gap, and Coco ran under it.”

Back and forth, Somers had the next best chance, and what appeared to be more. After Epstein made a diving save, the rebound landed for an easy put back with 15 minutes left in the game.

Instead offsides was called, and when John Jay could not turn a logjam in the crease into victory, Nuttall was forced to state the obvious. “We would have preferred a win,” he concluded.

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