Notre Dame of Staten Island Defeats Good Counsel 4-1 in Semifinal Playoff Game
For one half of soccer game it looked like the magical and mystical season for the Good Counsel Cougars would live on to see another day, but Notre Dame of Staten Island had three unanswered goals during the second half that allowed them to claim a 4-1 victory ending the Cougars season.
The game played on Saturday at Stepinac was originally scheduled for November 1st but had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.
Notre Dame jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. The Cougars were able to tie the game several minutes later on a spectacular goal by senior Samantha Arroyo.
Arroyo and the Notre Dame Goalie both went after the bouncing ball and it was a play that could have gone either way. The quickness and the ability of Arroyo to control the ball allowed her to send into the net.
“It was really close. I was surprised they didn’t give a call on it. I saw her arguing with the refs about it. She didn’t have full possession and once it hit off my head and then hit off my feet it was just the best feeling in the world,” said Arroyo about her goal after the game.
Cougars head coach Henry Marfe was pleased with the way Arroyo handled the play, which led to the goal.
“It was a 50/50 ball she went up for it and she got to the ball first and finished it off,” said Marfe about Arroyo’s goal.
During the second half Notre Dame scored early to take a 2-1 advantage. The other two goals happened when the Cougars under the direction of Marfe were pressing hard on offense trying to score another goal to tie the game. When a team presses too much on offense in soccer and a quick change of position takes place it can leave a team’s defense extremely vulnerable.
Playoffs in high school sports are filled with enough pressure to begin with and when you mix it with a very strong Hurricane followed by a Nor’easter that takes away nearly all of your practice time, it makes things very difficult for a team to find their rhythm.
“It was very difficult. We only got one practice in the last six days because of the field conditions,” said Marfe about the weather stopping his team from practicing. “Trying to keep sharp and then the snow hits and we’re not on the field together for four days. You come out here and try to put it together and play against the number one team in Staten Island. It’s a difficult task to do.
Marfe was very proud of the way his team competed versus the talented Notre Dame squad.
“We did the best we could. We hung in. Tied the game one-one. I was proud of the girls,” said Marfe.
The Cougars have a strong group of seniors on the roster this year and they will be missed come next fall. This year’s seniors are Arroyo, Maeve Power, Brianna Marfe, Colleen Wall, Kathleen Casella, Alea Pennacchia, Amilya Jeanty and Jasmine Joseph.
“They played great. We got them all on the field today. All the ones that were here,” said Marfe about his seniors. “I love this team. I love their attitude. I love how they never give up.”
This has been a very special season for the Cougars with numerous victories but the highlight of the season might have been scoring on and tying Maria Regina a few weeks ago in a match.
Arroyo believes that her team’s strong bond was their key to the season.
“It has been a really special season. I’m really happy with my team because everyone gets along so well. Our relationships on the team is what made our season great and it made us successful,” said Arroyo about the 2012 Cougars’ season
Despite all the seniors graduating Marfe is excited about next season.
“I think we’re in good shape going into next year. We will come out and see what preseason brings and we will do the best we can,” said Marfe.
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