Wildcats Hold On With Late Goal To Win

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Senior Christina McFelia, right, looks for the ball on Friday in a road game against Bay Shore – a game in which she scored the winning goal.

The clock read 7:00 and, following a goal from Walt Whitman High School’s Christina McFelia, the “1” on the scoreboard that had been attached to the Wildcats’ name since the first half evolved into a “2.” At the time, with Whitman (3-5) then leading Bay Shore (3-6) by a score of 2-0, it seemed like McFelia’s goal would just be the cherry on top of a win; it ended up being the game winner.

With 22 seconds remaining in the game, Bay Shore’s Grace Hickey found the back of the cage to give her team some life, but it wasn’t enough, as the Wildcats held on 2-1 to snap a three-game losing streak Friday on the road.

A senior for Walt Whitman, McFelia has been no stranger to goals this season. Through nine games, she’s recorded 9 goals; against Bay Shore, she added an assist.

“She just did a fantastic job getting the ball up the right side, into position for the cross so that we could capitalize and get the goal,” Whitman’s Head Coach Karen Schmitt said of her team’s leading goal scorer.

While McFelia’s play was key for Whitman, Schmitt also liked what she saw from the rest of her team as the Wildcats prepare for the second half of the season.

“[We] were getting to the ball fast, [we] were possessing, [we] were moving… This is a good confidence booster; [it will] really help us going into our second rotation [of the schedule],” Schmitt said.

Emma Manson scored the first goal for Walt Whitman in the contest and Nicole Grennan recorded 2 saves.

Coming off the win, Whitman’s confidence did indeed bleed over as the girls took down Half Hollow Hills (0-7) by a score of 6-0 thanks to 3 goals apiece from McFelia and Jenna Piromalli.

Next up was a date at Sachem North (6-2) on Wednesday after press time. On Friday the team will travel to Sachem East (8-0) for a 4 p.m. start.