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Sports

Girls Soccer Advances to Semifinals

Haley O'Hanlon chipped in a free kick from about 20 yards to score the lone goal in a 1-0 Trojans victory over Clarke in the quarterfinals of the Class A soccer playoffs.

Garden City girls varsity soccer Coach Mike Heedles had a feeling that Wednesday's match wasn't going to be easy after having handled Clarke twice during the regular season. As he made sure his team knew, beating a team three times in the same season is a very difficult task.

Right from the start the Lady Trojans knew they were in for a battle as Clarke challenged for every 50-50 ball, pushed the play and played swarming defense. Garden City had a couple of scoring opportunities as Lauren Miesemer broke free down the right sideline but shot just wide of a diving keeper. Colette Seel also had a good scoring attempt as she split the defense in the air and volleyed her shot just over the bar.

As the scoreless half was winding down captain Haley O'Hanlon urged her team to keep on the ball and step up their attack. With about four minutes left in the first half Garden City was awarded a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box.

O'Hanlon took the free kick and lofted a perfect shot into the upper 90 past a stunned Clarke defense. It was such a good shot that the Clarke keeper never even moved for the ball.

Garden City continued to press before the half ended with shots by Miesemer and O'Hanlon but they had to settle for the 1-0 lead.

The second half was a battle for possession with Garden City leading the way. The Clarke midfield was solid, winning many balls in the air but they weren't able to break down the Trojans' defense. 

The first line of defenders for Garden City were in the midfield with Kerry DeFliese, O'Hanlon and Katherine Galzerano working hard throughout, challenging every pass and every ball.

When a ball did get through to a striker the key for the Trojans were Colette and Megan Seel, along with sweeper Deanna DiPierro playing stellar defense in tracking down any attacking Clarke players.

Clarke had one good scoring chance with about 10 minutes left in the match but keeper Taylor Carpentier cut down the angle and made the save.

Garden City, the #2 seed, will take on #6 seed Cold Spring Harbor who defeated Plainedge in two overtimes. The semifinal match will be played at Denton Avenue Field at 7 p.m. Saturday.

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