Reilly’s Two Goals Lead Blue Devils Past Deer Park
No team likes to lose so the Huntington High School girls’ soccer team took its recent 4-1 loss to undefeated East Islip to heart. But, after their very next game, the Blue Devils were all smiles after shutting-out visiting Deer Park, 3-0.
Sophomore Katie Reilly and senior Emily Saltman teamed up for all three of Huntington’s goals in the game, which was played at Breezy Park on West Rogues Path in Huntington. Reilly had two goals and an assist. Saltman had a goal and two assists.
“Our teamwork is definitely starting to improve,” Reilly said. “We are moving forward and getting better each game.”
The Blue Devils were down after last week’s loss to East Islip, which saw Huntington junior Mackenzie Maloney score the team’s lone goal. Sophomore goalie Taylor Moreno made eight saves in the game.
Huntington took a 1-0 first half lead against Deer Park when Reilly scored off a Saltman assist. The pair teamed up for another goal in the second half with Saltman against assisting Reilly’s scoring effort. They later reversed roles with Reilly feeding Saltman who scored the final goal of the game with about three minutes left on the clock. Moreno stopped seven shots in the Blue Devils’ net.
“It was a great victory coming off of a tough loss against East Islip,” Reilly said. “Our defense was solid as always. We hope to keep it up. We’d like to have a winning season and hopefully make it to playoffs.” The win improved Huntington’s record to 2-1 in Suffolk League IV play and 3-2 overall.
The Blue Devils felt right at home playing at Breezy Park since the team usually practices there as well. Huntington is captained by seniors Kim Smith and Megan Healy. The roster also includes Alexandra Koumas, Naomi Medina-Jaudes, Caitlin Knowles, Samantha Lynch, Sabrina Palacios, Summer Rudish, Molly Brambil, Katie Laurie, Camille Stafford, Tyler Burton, Jessica Tucker, Morgan Mars, Katie Nugent, Lindsay Sullivan and Kaitlin Wascher.
Huntington opened the season with a non-league loss to John H. Glenn, 2-0. Burton made eight saves in goal and Moreno stopped two shots. The Blue Devils managed 10 shots of their own, but never managed to get one past the goalie.
I
n the second game of the season, another non-league contest, Huntington nipped Walt Whitman, 1-0 on a goal by Reilly off an assist from Nugent. Moreno had seven saves in the net. Huntington took 10 shots in the game.
The Blue Devils opened league play by topping Hauppauge, 1-0. Knowles scored the game winner off a cross from Reilly with about 22 minutes remaining in the second half. Moreno recorded nine saves. Huntington took eight shots.