Trojans Top Rams in Undefeated Showdown

The offensive pressure just never stopped.

That was the formula for the Garden City Trojans (12-0), who won the battle of the undefeated field hockey teams against Clarke (11-1) 3-0 at Garden City High School Wednesday.

From the onset, Garden City was applying pressure and Clarke couldn't get the ball out of its own zone. With 23:39 remaining, the Trojans broke through when Tara DeAngelo took a shot from the point. It bounced around and landed in front of Jacqueline Marino, who stuffed it in.

"We knew one of us was going to keep our undefeated record, and we’re happy it was us," Marino said.

Clarke failed to register a shot in the first half, but they trailed only 1-0 heading into the break due to Amanda Gargiulo's goaltending, which kept Garden City at bay.

"Amanda is just a super goalie," Clarke Coach Leslie Murray said.

The second half was no different, as Garden City spent the majority on the Rams' side of the field. With 7:54 remaining, there was a scrum in front, and Melanie McHugh was able to give the Trojans an insurance goal.

"We knew finishing would be big," McHugh said. "Their defense played awesome. When it’s in the circle like that, you gotta get it in."

With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Garden City added a third goal when Shannon Tierney scored off a penalty corner, and the final score was 3-0.

"We were really pumped up for this game," Tierney said. "I think we have potential to go all the way to state’s."

For Clarke, Gargiulo registered 22 saves, and Coach Murray said the team will go back to the drawing board and work on improving. 

"I think the speed of the game really took us for a loop," Murray said. "They’re just a very highly skilled team. We have to work on that and get through their defense."

Gargiulo, who played the entire second half with a broken strap,  said she thinks it'll be a different outcome if the two teams meet again. 

"We played with heart from the first buzzer to the last buzzer," she said. "I think if we see Garden City again, it’s going to be an even closer game."

Garden City Coach Diane Chapman was pleased with her team's effort.

"They played really well cohesively," she said. "They all did a great job against a really skilled and fast team."

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