Girls Soccer

October 1, 2009

Passing attack leads SDA

Lauren Tredo St. Dominic Academy

Junior Lauren Tredo led the Blue Devils' passing attack with a pair of assists.

Click Here for more photos from Memorial at St. Dominic Academy.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

JERSEY CITY – For St. Dominic Academy, the key to success has been to be grounded.

Behind an offense predicated on fast and low passes, the Blue Devils took control early and never looked back in a 4-0 victory over Memorial yesterday in Jersey City.

“We always try and pass the ball out,” St. Dominic coach Colette Lenaghan said. “We don’t just play kick and run. That’s what my philosophy is all about. Play the game on the floor, it’s not meant to be played in the air.”

This strategy worked early and often for a St. Dominic (6-2) squad that scored four times in the first half. Cecilia Sabbers opened the scoring in the 16th minute when she received a long cross from Lauren Tredo in front of net and delivered the initial goal. Tredo struck again just eight minutes later when she set up Courtney Major for a goal past the diving Tania Quito of the Tigers (1-5).

After Sabbers scored her second of the game, Ali Esposito closed out the scoring binge when she unleashed a shot into the top left corner of the net in the first half’s final seconds.

“The girls played really well, they passed it really well,” Lenaghan said. “They scored three excellent goals to kind of kill the game off quickly. Once we got off to that good start it was going to be hard for Memorial to come back.”

 

The four goals were more than enough for St. Dominic goalie Julie Lipyanka. The sophomore made four saves to earn the shutout.

One bright spot for Leibowitz and the Tigers was the play on Quito in net. The junior netminder made 14 saves for Memorial in defeat. In the second half, Quito showed an added aggressiveness, leaving the goal area to snuff out potential scoring opportunities by the Blue Devils.

“Tania was absolutely tremendous today. She’s never played soccer in her life (before this year). She’s actually a basketball player. She’s got great hands. I couldn’t be happier with what she did out there today.

Quito is one of several new faces on a roster that features 11 freshmen. While Leibowitz admits there have been plenty of youthful mistakes along the way, he’s been pleased with how the rebuilding effort has progressed thus far.

“These girls are great,” he said. “They’re definitely willing to learn, they’re patient and they’re going to work really hard during the (offseason).”

While Memorial continues to work on the future, St. Dominic has their eyes on the present. The Blue Devils only have three senior starters, but the expectations have gone up after a recent 1-0 victory over Bayonne. The confidence from that victory has continued to carry over for SDA since then.

“It was a big confidence booster,” Lenaghan said. “We’re playing with confidence, we’re passing the ball well and I think it shows in our play.”

Tania Quito Memorial

Memorial's Tania Quito made 14 saves and has impressed in her first year.

 
1st
2nd
Total
Memorial (1-5)
0
0
0
St. Dominic Academy (6-2)
4
0
4
 
SDA: Cecilia Sabbers (Lauren Tredo) 16th minute
SDA: Courtney Major (Tredo) 24th minute
SDA: Sabers (unassisted) 33rd minute
SDA: Ali Esposito (Lauren Silverman) 40th minute
 

Goalies: M: Tania Quito (14 saves); SDA: Julie Lipyanka (4 saves).