As an average spectator to Monday’s match between league leading FASNY, who defeated last year’s league and playoff champions 1-0 earlier the previous week, and the ladies of LREI one would have seen a close regular season game that was well played between two of the teams that met in last year’s ISAL semifinals.  But the players and coaches saw a matchup that had history to it, as well as being one that will probably be key to the final standings headed into the playoffs at the end of the season. 

 

LREI and FASNY have met three times in the previous two seasons, with FASNY usually having the upper hand.  In 2012 LREI traveled to SUNY Purchase to lose a brutal 6-1 decision.  The 2013 edition saw a much closer game, with then junior Finley Martin scoring on a 20 yard rocket only to have FASNY equalize in the second half.  The game would finish 1-1, but the season’s aggregate scoring would remain the same as FASNY eliminated the Knights from the playoffs by a score of 5-0. 

 

So, at least from the LREI side, the history of this matchup left the team with an uncomfortable feeling.  And one could not be blamed for thinking those feelings could easily translate onto the field as the teams kicked off their 2014 rematch. 

 

If they were present, however, it never showed.

 

Right from the outset the game was played in the middle of the field, with seniors Martin and Ana Maroto flying all over to try to bring order to the LREI passing game.  FASNY’s strength seemed to lie in their speed and skill on the wing, and the wide players in red had their hands full. 

 

FASNY was the first to break the deadlock not long into the game when a corner kick found it’s way to the ground in the box and was bundled over the line in the confusion.  The goal seemed to spark the Knights, however, and they went on a run of pushing towards the opposition goal, rattling off 4 unanswered shots.  Junior Maya Pacheco-Berger, a defensive stalwart for LREI over the last two seasons, was forced off with an ankle injury midway through the half, and midfielder Amelia Pinney, who covered the position so well against Trevor Day, slid back into the spot.  Pinney would go on to have an outstanding game, playing both smart and physical.  She would cover a full 80 minutes in the game, as would many of the Knight’s players, and be a big part of the reason LREI were as solid as they were.  Center backs Minnie Hutchins and Hazel Hutchins held against some difficult play from FASNY, with Minnie using smart positioning to cut off through balls, and Hazel flying all over the field using both intelligent physicality and fearless play to put on a defending clinic.  Before the half the Knights managed to build on the defensive solidarity to break through the lines on the other end when senior Ally Klemer, deputizing in net fantastically for usual starter Sara Caplan, sitting with a rib injury, sent a quick low punt towards freshman forward Rachel Morrow who latched on to it and scored her fourth of the season. 

 

LREI managed to control a little more of the game in the second half when Martin moved out onto the left flank and terrorized the FASNY outside backs, creating space and shooting opportunities.  There were a few tense moments for forwards Olivia Sharp and Diandra Adu-Kyei, who pressured the backline with speed and determination, but the go ahead goal never materialized. 

 

In the end FASNY managed to exploit a spell of possession in the deep midfield to run on to a long ball off the left side, which they managed to slot past Klemer ahead of the onrushing coverage. 

 

The result puts the Knights at 2-2 on the season, and 1-2 in the league, with matchups against Dwight and Churchill still to come this week.  The Dwight game will be Wednesday, October 1^st on Randall’s Island.