New York Post girls soccer beat writer Joseph Staszewski breaks down Friday’s PSAL Class A semifinals.
Here’s the schedule:
Flushing Meadow Park
2:30 p.m. – No. 1 Bronx Science vs. No. 4 Tottenville
2:30 p.m. – No. 2 Beacon vs. No. 3 McKee/Staten Island Tech
Bronx Science Wolverines
Head coach: Josh Zuckerman
Record: 14-0
Player to watch: Alexandra Bushman
How they got here: Defeated No. 9 Francis Lewis, 1-0, in the quarterfinals
Tottenville Pirates
Head coach: George Kaplan
Record: 12-1-1
Player to watch: Brittany Sheeran
How they got here: Defeated No. 5 Cardozo, 3-2, in the quarterfinals
Outlook: The outcome of this game will be determined by the health of Bronx Science. Georgetown-bound senior Alexandra Bushman fell on her hand late in the Wolverines’ quarterfinals win over Francis Lewis. Star midfielder Taylor Murtaugh collided with a defender and suffered a knee injury that kept her from returning. Both of these players will likely give it a go, but at what percent they will be is still up in the air. Can they will Science to its first final appearance since 2004 after three straight losses in the final four?
Tottenville has the great equalizer against what is a physical and technically sound Wolverines squad. The Pirates have speed and plenty of it and are one of the most fit teams in the city. Kaitlyn Regan is tough to knock off the ball and great around the net. Brittany Sheeran is an opportunistic scorer and freshman Nicole Tantillo is pesky.
If Bronx Science can win the battle at midfield, which hinges on Murtaugh’s health, it can take advantage of its balance on offense with Nadine Penkovsky, Stephanie Mazursky and Elizabeth Schaeffer. Pirates sweeper Kasey Murphy is one of the best in the city, but she could have her hands full.
Beacon Blue Demons
Head coach: Kevin Jacobs
Record: 14-0
Player to watch: Elsa Hardy
How they got here: Defeated No. 10 LaGuardia, 6-0, in the quarterfinals
McKee/Staten Island Tech Sea Gulls
Head coach: Joanna Santarpia
Record: 12-1-1
Player to watch: Jackie Bruno
How they got here: Defeated No. 11 Petrides, 4-2, in the quarterfinals
Outlook: It’s a much-anticipated rematch of the last two city championship games. MSIT won the most recent version and Beacon came out on top before that. These teams know each other well.
MSIT, which has just 14 girls on its roster, comes in banged up. It had just enough players to field a full team to finish its quarterfinals win over Petrides. Beacon’s depth will be an even bigger advantage now. The Sea Gulls have one of the best defenses in the city. They gave up just nine goals this season. As long as sophomore sensation Jackie Bruno is on the pitch MSIT has a chance to beat anyone, especially if they score early.
That is something that will be imperative in this contest since Beacon has had a knack for stringing goals together. Coach Kevin Jacobs’ club is the most technically sound group in the city and have a talented duo in Sophie Kligler and Elsa Hardy. Hannah Collyns is a force at midfield and Polly Carr is an underrated goalkeeper.
