Postseason Reflection of The Huntington Girls Soccer Team

The Huntington Girls Soccer Team ended their season just a few weeks ago with a 2-2 tie on their senior day against Longwood. Marissa Stafford and Lena Annunziata had two great goals. Stafford’s was off one of teammate, Riva Bergman’s spectacular throws in while Annunziatas was off a perfect corner kick from Marrissa Stafford. Though the team wasn’t able to outscore Longwood, they fought hard throughout the game and gave their very best effort until the final buzzer in overtime. Though the season wasn’t perfect, the Blue Devils won multiple games. Additionally, they tallied many ties against tough competition like Smithtown East, who won all their games except for that against Huntington in a difficult game that ending in 0-0 after overtime.

This year’s team was captained by seniors Marissa Stafford, Caroline Hartough and Alexandra Gerbavsits. The team was a very close group of girls who enjoyed every moment on the field together and made many memories that will last a lifetime. What Huntington’s record doesn’t show is the amount of adversity the team had to overcome this season. This includes the  many injuries like the broken wrist of the team’s vital center midfielder Teddi Carnesi, which created a “whirlwind of emotions.” “As I unfortunately broke my wrist at the beginning of the season, the team had to work extra hard. They did a great job stepping up to the plate and filling that position. Even though we struggled a little bit at the end of the season, the girls kept a positive and upbeat attitude.” Carnesi isn’t wrong in that aspect, as the girls were able to shift their formation and play different positions then what they originally had at the beginning of the season.

Junior, Jordan Forte played a pivotal role for the Blue Devils, especially on defense. She was charged with guarding some of the best strikers in the league, but her athleticism and competitive nature helped her excel at her position while also having fun. “Playing on the field with my best friends everyday was better than anything else. I couldn’t imagine walking out on the field with any other group of girls. I am so excited to see what this team does next year!”

Hartough also enjoyed a great season, where she played a decisive role as the sweeper. “Overall I thought that we had a really fun and competitive season. We all bonded really well together and love all the memories that we all shared. It was definitely one of my favorite soccer seasons!” Even cheering from the bench, Carnesi can attest to what a special team this group of athletes was. “Watching from the sidelines injured was not fun, but my teammates were there for me in a rough time during my career. I am super excited to get back on the Blue Devil turf next season and hopefully aid us in getting to playoffs!”