It was Summer time in November.
No. 18 Riverdale/Kingsbridge had lost its last two playoffs game and trailed No. 15 Townsend Harris by a goal at the half. Star sophomore Summer Sofer took it from there.
She scored three of her four goals in the second half to give the Tigers a 4-2 win over the Hawks in the first round of the PSAL Class A playoffs at Flushing Meadow Park on Tuesday. The win is the program’s first ever postseason victory.
“I think it’s a very big step forward for us as we continue to grow and develop as a program,” RKA coach Julienne Krause said. “I think it helps the girls realize what they are capable of as a team, what they can achieve.”
Sofer, one of the league’s top goal scorers, found the back of the net three times in the opening 25 minutes of the second period with her team down 2-1 to Townsend Harris (7-4-3). She scored a 25-yard free kick just five minutes in. Sofer lofted another free kick over the goalie from just over midfield to give Riverdale/Kingsbridge (11-2-0) a 3-2 advantage it would not relinquish 10 minutes later and tacked on an insurance goal. Lilly Feldman and Lea Cohen added assists.
Krause was impressed with her team’s comeback and lauded the play of junior Courtney Segal in the back. She knew Sofer was on after the first free kick, one she felt turned the game’s momentum.
“It was one who could tell as soon as it left her foot that it was going in,” Krause said of the third goal. “She is very consistent with her far out kicks like that.”
RKA advances to play No. 2 and defending city champion Beacon 3:30 p.m. Friday in the second round at Riverside Park.
Despite three straight second place finishes in Bronx A, her team hadn’t tasted playoff success until now. Two years ago it was beat by Leon Goldstein and last season was upset by Canarsie, both home games. The Tigers were overconfident the first time around and nervous last season. This time they kept a more even keeled approach.
“We felt like it was something we should have been able to do the past two years and it was our time now to do it,” Krause said.
Francis Lewis 6, HS for Math and Science 0: Karin Backert had a goal and an assist for No. 6 Francis Lewis (10-0-3) in the first round of the PSAL ClassA playoffs. Gena Koutsounadis, Libby Zelikowitz, Marta Flores and Panagiota Tsourapis each added a goal. Natalia Hadjigeorgiou and Nataly Rojas both chipped in an assist. No. 27 HS for Math and Science finishes 4-10-0
Susan Wagner 7, Canarsie 0: Senda Karagozler and Amela Drekovic each scored twice and Andrea Buccellato tallied four assists for No. 9 Susan Wagner (8-2-3) in the first round of the PSAL Class A playoffs. Jazmyn Coles Clarke has a goal and an assist and Agape Alexander, Deanna Kvetkoff and Samantha Warner each added a goal. The Falcons travel to play No. 8 Long Island City, 3:30 p.m. Friday in the second round. No. 24 Canarsie finishes 7-6-0.
Fort Hamilton 2, New Dorp 1: Maria Pettet scored twice for No. 12 Fort Hamilton (10-1-2) in the opening round of the PSAL Class A playoffs. Cansu Usta and Maria Kovba each dished out an assists and Irene Kafkis made 21 saves. Emily D’Arpe tallied the line goal for No. 21 New Dorp (5-7-1) in the second half. The Tigers advanced to play No. 5 LaGuardia 3 p.m. Friday on Randall’s Island in the second round.
Leon Goldstein 3, Arts & Business 0: Pamela Wishart recorded a hat trick for No. 13 Leon Goldstein (9-3-1) in the first round of the PSAL Class A playoffs. Meagan Murray added an assist and Sasha Hernandez made 10 saves. The Dolphins visit No. 4 Bayside 3:30 p.m. Friday No. 23 Arts and Business is 7-4-2.
Forest Hills 5, Grand Street Campus 0: Jackelin Brito and Natalia Cayado both had a goal and an assist for No. 19 Forest Hills (8-3-2) in the first round of the PSAL Class A playoffs. Lina Dominguez dished out two assists and Jaclyn Banayan and Laura Mejia each added goals. Caitlin Daly made eight saves. The Rangers take on No. 3 McKee/Staten Island Tech 3:30 p.m. Friday in the second round. No. 14 Grand Street ends the year 10-2-0.
CHSAA
St. John’s Prep 4, St. Agnes 0: Caroline Souza found the back of the net twice and dished out two assists for St. John’s Prep (7-2-1) in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Class A semifinals. Effie Mellidese and Christina Caruso each added goals. Jada Hawkins Hill chipped in an assist. SJB takes on St. Edmund in 6 p.m. Thursday at Aviator for the title. St. Agnes is 2-7-0.
St. Edmund 6, Bishop Ford 0: Monica Mangano recorded a hat trick for St. Edmund (6-3-1) in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Class A semifinals. Alex Samosiuk, Alyssa Durante and Kelly O’Neill each added goals. Anfisa Gordeev and Nicole Ciarlo combined for the shutout. The Eagles face St. John Prep 6 p.m. Thursday in the final at Aviator. Bishop Ford is 3-5-0.
PSAL CLASS B
Environmental Studies 2, Sheepshead Bay 0: Nina Luksanapol had a goal and an assist for No. 9 Environmental Studies (7-6-0) in the first round of the PSAL Class B playoffs. Destini Torres chipped in a goal. The Eagles meet No. 1 Telecom in the quarterfinals 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Dust Bowl. No. 8 Sheepshead ends the year 6-6-1.
OTHER SCORES
Beach Channel 1, George Washington 0