The Syosset Invasion Girls U-11 travel soccer team battled a disappointing memory as well as their opponent when they took on the Avalanche in Auburndale this past Saturday. The two teams previously squared off in the second to last game of the fall season when Syosset needed a win to secure a second place finish. What started out as a promising 2-1 lead evaporated into a tough 3-2 loss as Auburndale scored two unanswered goals in the last five minutes of play and snatched victory out of the grasp of the Invasion. Incredibly, the Avalanche mounted a similar comeback this past Saturday, but this time Syosset responded with a decisive, aggressive, and physical 5-2 victory that avenged the autumn loss, gave Syosset a 4-1-2 record, and guaranteed the team a finish above .500 in LIJSL Nassau Division 2 for the first time in team history.

Still smarting from their first loss of the season to East Meadow the previous week, Syosset jumped out to an early lead when forward Michelle Florin netted a left-footed shot from close range off an assist from forward Samara Klafter, who made a beautiful crossing pass from the far left corner of the field after winning the ball with great determination. The second goal was scored about ten minutes later by right midfielder Denise Neuendorf on a strong left-footed strike from the top of the goalie box off an assist from center midfielder Amanda Epstein. A third goal attempt by left midfielder Kasey LeVerne, who displayed tremendous intensity throughout the match, was unfortunately negated by an offsides call. Still, Syosset kept Auburndale off the scoreboard throughout the first half with the solid play of defenders Renee Kiviat, Stephanie Lucidi, Samantha Romano, and especially Gabrielle Barbour, who stripped the ball from Auburndale offensive players on several occasions and also had a number of outstanding goal kicks.

It felt like deja vu several minutes into the second half as Auburndale mounted a comeback that was reminiscent of their come-from-behind win last fall. The Avalanche scored two unanswered goals, tying the score, and you couldn't help but wonder if history would repeat itself. That's when center midfielder Amanda Epstein changed the momentum of the game, taking on an Auburndale's defender, making a second and third effort to get around the player, and firing a shot into the left corner of the net to give Syosset a 3-2 advantage. Just a few minutes later, Amanda repeated the feat when she scored her second consecutive unassisted goal in similar fashion, this time finishing the play by putting the ball over the goalie's reach and into the top of the net to give Syosset some breathing room and a 4-2 lead.

Despite the change in fortune, Auberndale did not give up. An Avalanche player broke free and created a breakaway scoring opportunity that threatened to reduce Syosset's lead to a one goal advantage. That's when goal keeper Jessica Greenberg stepped up and impacted the game. Jessica came out of the goal, cut down the angle, and forced the player to rush her shot which soared wide of the net. As the action reversed itself, right midfielder Laura Goldman received a pass to the right of the goal and just barely missed giving Syosset a three goal advantage when her scoring attempt sailed over the crossbar. With a few minutes left in the game, Jordan Feinerman received a pass on the run, put several touches on the ball, got around a defender, and shot the ball into the right corner of the goal to punctuate the victory and put a frustrating memory to rest.