Thomas Nguyen knew exactly who was taking the final penalty kick if it got that far. The Brooklyn Tech girls soccer coach made it clear to the referees that his sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Ann O’Connell would step out from between the pipes to take the team’s 10th shot.
“We all know she has the strongest kick on the team,” Nguyen said. “She has a very fine kick.”
Both teams couldn’t secure the win through the first round of kicks and O’Connell’s turn arose with a chance to send the Engineers to the next round. She had already saved three penalty kicks and didn’t disappoint her confident coach.
She scored to the top left corner to lead No. 9 Brooklyn Tech past No. 25 Thomas Edison, 2-1, in penalty kicks in a PSAL Class A girls soccer first-round game at Sterling Field Sunday afternoon. The Engineers will meet ninth-seeded Francis Lewis 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the second round.
“It was incredible, just a soccer classic,” Nguyen said.
Brooklyn Tech star striker Niri Halperin beat two defenders and scored to the far post from the top of the box to tie the score at 1-all five minutes before halftime. The Engineers (10-2-1) had three shots miss just wide of the far post and were without senior Jessica Riccardi, who missed the game for personal reasons, according to Nguyen.
Bridgitte McCalla eluded defenders and chipped a shot over O’Connell to give Edison (6-7) the lead in the 10th minute. The Inventors had scoring chances on a breakaway they failed to convert and Jennifer Flores had a penalty kick hit the crossbar midway through the second half.
“I thought we owned the game,” Edison coach Frank DeNunzio said. “We just didn’t get the result.”
LaGuardia 7, Clinton 0: Gabriele Davis and Tammie Schneider each scored twice and dished out an assist for No.10 LaGuardia (10-2-1). Megan Caccavale added a goal and two assists. LaGuardia will visit No. 7 Fort Hamilton on Wednesday in the second round. Clinton finishes 7-5-1.
Susan Wagner 6, Canarsie 1: Samantha Malec found the back of the net five times and added an assist for No. 17 Susan Wagner (8-5). The Falcons advance to play top-seeded Bronx Science on Wednesday in the second round. Alexandra Verardi added a goal and three helpers. Theresa Stewart scored for No. 16 Canarsie (9-3-1).
Grand Street Campus 1, Arts & Business 0: No. 13 Grand Street Campus advancesd, 1-0, on penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and overtime. The Wolves (11-2) head to Staten Island to take on No. 4 Tottenville 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the second round. Art & Business is 5-4-4.
