CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - Unfortunately John Jay readied themselves for the sectionals by losing their undefeated season in the final game.
“It was a sad end,” admitted Coach Dave Nuttall.
But disappointment wasn’t the only take he offered going into the postseason.
“It can also be a wake up call,” asserted Nuttall. And Westlake was put in the unenviable position to answer a seven goal shutout in the first round of the sectionals on Saturday, Oct. 25.
4 versus 13, the Wolves knew they were favored, but the girls never pay attention to the numbers.
“We don’t look at any opponent as lesser,” assured Abby Mattielo. “Then we always come into it, start as best we can with the highest intensity."
Westlake could attest after only 44 seconds. First Kayla Cambareri won the sideline, got the ball ahead to Mattiello in the corner, and her cross caught Carly Mangiaracina in front. She found May Viders, and the freshman gave her team the lead for good.
No letting up, Mangiaracina kicked off the next chance. Another win on the sideline, she got space and hooked a perfect pass to Mattiello in the crease. The bounce a little high, Mattiello’s arm on the ball was whistled in favor of Westlake at 35 minutes.
75 seconds later, it was Cambareri tightroping without a net. She secured possession on the out of bounds, and the subsequent throw in had Viders playing the beneficiary with a shot on goal. Still, the Westlake goalie got the glory with a diving save, but not long after, the Wildcat would be looking back.
Viders scooted the corner kick short, and Mangiaracina put on the stop. In control with the defense converging, she kept her head and stuffed the ball past the goalie for a 2-0 lead.
In at 31:26, the writing was already on the wall and numerous Wolves held the pen to approach the epilogue. Viders took a one v one at midfield, dribbled ahead to find Audrey Oestreicher, and with the defense converging, she found Cambareri. Her foot on the ball went to Hayley Franz and she got it back to Cambareri, who easily put the Wolves up 3-0 at 23:04.
They just missed moments later when a corner kick was less than a head too high to Mattiello, but the near miss was no cause for concern. Mykel Papa took a penalty kick from the 20, and hitting the post proved good enough. Ava Cervantes remained on point, jumped the rebound and had nothing but net in front of her.
Good for a 4-0 lead, the rest was just showing up, and putting in the time left Kate Kaplowitz pondering the lengths this team can go.
“Pretty far,” she concluded, “all the way.”
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