Sports

McCarthy, Telecom slip past Madison in PKs for first PSAL ‘B’ title

Telecom goalie Maureen Mccarthy stretches to save the ball.

Telecom goalie Maureen Mccarthy stretches to save the ball. (William Thomas)

James Madison's Jasmine Fermin dribbles the ball.

James Madison’s Jasmine Fermin dribbles the ball. (William Thomas)

Winning a championship meant so much to Telecom keeper Maureen McCarthy she cried twice.

The senior, who started her career when the Brooklyn school was one of the weakest teams in PSAL Class B, said she was crying when it looked like her chance at a title was about to slip away with rival Madison up two in the first round of penalty kicks. Teammate Laticia Cuautlenetted her first of two PKs to keep Telecom alive and it would be tears of joy she would be shedding later.

“When they got the goal I completely shot up and was like we got this,” McCarthy said. “That was a big thing.”

She came up just as big.

The top-seed Yellow Jackets rallied as McCarthy stopped five of 10 shots over two rounds of penalty kicks. After Cuautle gave Telecom the lead for good, she made a diving stop to her left on a Mercedes Diaz shot to seal Telecom’s 5-4 win over No. 2 Madison on penalty kicks after 90 minutes of scoreless soccer in the PSAL Class B girls soccer final Saturday on Randall’s Island.

“When I was a freshman we actually lost 8-0 to every single team,” McCarthy said. “I would go crazy in the goal and everyone would yell at me. Now everyone is working together and it’s really amazing. It’s such a great accomplishment as a senior.”

The title is Telecom’s first in its first-ever championship game appearance. To do so it had to play division rival Madison a fourth time, after winning two of three regular-season meetings. The Yellow Jackets (14-1-1) took the regular-season finale 4-3 to lock up their first Brooklyn B-VII title.

“We made history for Telecommunications,” Cuautlesaid.

The junior was a reluctant shooter in the penalty kicks. Telecommunication coach Charles Young said he had to yell at her to raise her confidence because she was so nervous, but she calmly scored to the right post on the fourth shot of the opening round with the Yellow Jackets needing a score. Carol Flores, Sayla Flores and Linda Tiu each added penalty kick goals. Madison keeper Samantha Rodriguez made two leaping stops to put her team in position for the win.

“It was a see saw — back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,” Young said. “I don’t know how much more I could have taken of that.”

The regulation time was a bit more one-sided with Madison (12-3-0) earning the better of the play thanks to star sweeper Jasmine Fermin. The Knights, playing their first season in the ‘B’ league, had a few quality chances to score, but couldn’t finish. Samantha O’Brien had a shot in the box cleared away by Nicole Cruz midway through the first half. Fermin, who hit the post on her second PK, missed just wide on a 35-yard free kick in the 61st minute and Madison couldn’t get a shot off during a wild scramble in the box with 4:20 left to play in regulation.

“We had enough chances to win the game and we didn’t convert them,” first-year Madison coach Richie Tighe said. “When you put it in penalty kicks it could go either way. Tough way to lose.”

All it took was one save to boost McCarthy’s confidence. Young and Cuautleeach talked about how much they will miss her next season. She went through the program’s ups and down and plenty of them in the final as well, but leaves with a title.

“It’s all surreal,” McCarthy said. “This feels like a dream I’m so happy. I can’t stop crying.”