Girls Soccer: John Jay stays unbeaten with win over Fox Lane

Clockwise from top left, Coco Inglis (15) of John Jay celebrates with Maye Viders after Inglis scored a goal against Fox Lane. John Jay goalie Brooke Epstein makes a save on a corner kick. Brynn Anthony (2) is tackled by teammate Nora Dooley as they celebrate after a goal by Anthony. Natalie Mazzuca of Fox Lane looks to make a pass as Julie Berisha defends for John Jay. Jim MacLean Photos

By JIM MACLEAN 

It was a wild one back and forth with lots of goals scored as Fox Lane hosted rival John Jay in girls soccer Sept. 13. The two teams combined for 11 goals scored, trading goals until late in the second half when John Jay scored the final three goals to pull away for a 7-4 victory.

John Jay improved to 4-0 to start the season, but it certainly wasn’t easy as the Foxes answered each time the Wolves scored. John Jay took the lead for good at 5-4 with 17 minutes left, but it wasn’t until four minutes left in the game when the Wolves were able to score again to make it a two-goal lead before closing out the victory.

“Very back and forth, this was a tough game for us today, first time anyone scored against us this season and the score was close until the end, so that was a good test for us and a good game,” said John Jay coach Dave Nuttall. “It was stressful, but end of the game we got into a flow and once we got a two-goal lead I feel that changed the momentum.”

Fox Lane suffered its third loss against three really good teams, but the Foxes proved to the Wolves and the rest of the league that the Foxes are a dangerous team with a lot of talent.

“Towards the end we got a little tired, we had three tough games this week, but the whole team played well for us,” said Fox Lane coach Fabian Videla. “Our league is super hard, we’ve played Greeley, Somers and John Jay, and we’ve been holding our own. 

John Jay scored first, but Fox Lane refused to let the Wolves pull away as the Foxes answered every goal. Carly Mangiaracina scored the first goal of the game to give John Jay a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game, but freshman Lauren Spolansky answered off an assist from Nora Dooley to tie it up. Audrey Oestreicher then gave the Wolves the lead again, but once again Spolansky answered with her second goal of the game to make it 2-2 at the half.

In the second half, John Jay regained the lead off a goal from Coco Inglis, but Fox Lane tied it up as Amanda Mazzuca scored off an assist from her sister Natalie Mazzuca to even it up at 3-3. Inglis scored her second goal of the game for John Jay to regain the lead, but Fox Lane answered as Brynn Anthony scored off a corner kick by Natalie Mazzuca to make it 4-4.

The Wolves were able to put it away as eighth-grader Avery Rand scored her first varsity goal and John Jay closed out a hard fourth 7-4 victory. It was a balanced attack for the Wolves with five different goal scorers.

“It’s a team game, and we know that for us to be successful we have to do it as a team,” admitted Nutall regarding the depth on the John Jay roster. “We focus on team play, everyone on the varsity knows their value and plays a part, and they play with confidence on the field and good things happen.”

Fox Lane might not be able to match the depth of the John Jay roster, but the Foxes responded with counter opportunities utilizing their speed, led by junior captain Amanda Mazzuca teaming up with Spolansky on the front line.

“Amanda and Natalie really keep the pace and keep you off balance, with Natalie on defense and Amanda on offense with her speed,” Videla said of the Mazzuca sisters. “Spolansky is a goal scorer, a young kid who gives us a second option so teams can’t focus on Amanda. Nora Dooley has played great at midfield, and Lily Rosenthal and Brynn Anthony leading the defense, the whole team is playing well and coming along.”