MacArthur girls soccer's Lyla Curtin makes nine saves in draw with Garden City
MacArthur goalkeeper Lyla Curtin makes a save during a Nassau Conference I girls soccer game in Levittown on Friday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
This was truly was a “throw-the-records-out’’ kind of matchup.
Undefeated Garden City traveled to Levittown on Friday to take on MacArthur — which had yet to win a conference game — and found itself locked in a stalemate.
The two teams walked away with a 0-0 draw, as the opposite sides of Nassau Conference I girls soccer found out how tight the conference may be this fall.
In the first half, both teams struggled to maintain possession long enough to find a scoring opportunity. MacArthur was especially gritty in the midfield.
Garden City began to find some momentum as the first half drew to a close. Stella Trillhaase found herself unmarked with five seconds remaining and uncorked a shot from 25 yards out that sailed just wide right.
Garden City (3-0-2) managed to occupy MacArthur territory for the majority of the second half and rattled off a few shots, but Generals goalkeeper Lyla Curtin refused to budge.
The 4-11 sophomore is a massive presence in the net and made nine saves for MacArthur (0-3-2).
“It can be stressful, but it’s such an honor to be playing here,” Curtin said. “Especially to be a sophomore, starting and playing the whole game. I work hard for this. Garden City is such a great team and tying them is a big deal for us.”
Garden City’s goalkeeper, Marisa Patrissi, made three saves.
Garden City coach Scott McAuley said finishing on scoring opportunities has been a point of emphasis for the Trojans all season.
“We had plenty of chances. It just comes down to that final piece,” McAuley said. “I think we were connected and did a nice job moving the ball up the field, but our last attacking piece of actually putting the ball in the goal was lacking.”
The play got more physical as time went on. MacArthur coach Steve Costello said this is typical of a Nassau I match.
Costello said his team comes out of this type of game better prepared for the rest of the season.
“I’m proud of how we competed,” he said. “Our goal is to get through this brutal schedule. After that, we’ll be a more mature team, a more complete team and a healthier team. The last three county champions were us, South Side and Garden City. If we take care of business, that’s who it’ll return to at the end.”
