CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - John Jay entered its Tuesday, Oct. 13, matchup against Fox Lane looking to rebound from a loss to Mahopac the previous day. The Wolves turned to a familiar connection to get back on track.
“We really know what the other needs,” said Abby Mattielo.
With Maye Viders as her running mate, Mattielo demonstrated that chemistry early in John Jay’s 5-0 victory.
“I knew she was going to play the ball through,” said Mattielo, who took advantage of Viders’ pass to open the scoring with 28:39 remaining in the first half.
Viders wasted little time making her presence felt, pushing into the offensive zone three times before the breakthrough.
“I got the ball and I took a touch around the defender,” said Mattielo. “I shot, it caught the inside of the post and went in.”
Two minutes later, the duo reversed roles. This time, Mattielo found Viders, who doubled the Wolves’ lead to 2-0.
John Jay kept the pressure on, with Viders and Mattielo remaining at the center of the action. Viders sent a ball into the middle, where Mattielo was fouled in front of the goal.
Dillon Hall stepped up to take the penalty kick, firing her shot straight down the middle. But Fox Lane goalkeeper Dylan New stood her ground and made the save.
New also outleaped Viders to intercept a corner kick moments later, but the Wolves refused to let up. With Viders and Mattielo continuing to threaten, the Foxes' defense remained on high alert.
Mykel Papa soon joined the scoring party, rising above the defense to head home Mattielo’s corner kick with 18:49 remaining in the half.
“Being tall is very helpful. I can reach over everyone,” said the senior.
With a 3-0 lead, the Wolves were firmly in control. A few minutes into the second half, Viders put the game further out of reach, weaving through a sea of Fox Lane defenders before finding the net again.
Papa marveled at her teammate’s ability to navigate through traffic.
“I don’t know how she does it,” said the senior. “She takes on five people and gets through.”
Sophya Papa rounded out the scoring with 6:43 remaining, putting the finishing touches on John Jay’s dominant performance.
With the postseason approaching, coach Dave Nuttall knows there are four or five tough teams standing between the Wolves and a sectional championship. However, the rest of Section 1 could have its own problems if John Jay lands in its bracket.
“We’re confident with the season we’ve had at 9-2-2,” Nuttall said.
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