The stage was set once again for D.J. Glazer to shine.
“Ironic, isn’t it?” said Glazer. “For this to happen three times is really weird.”
In the 77th minute of a quarterfinal matchup against No. 5 LaGuardia, Bayside’s superstar senior drilled a 15-yard free kick into the net, and for the third time this season, she tied a contest at 2 with three minutes remaining.
Glazer capped off the comeback in the third minute of the second overtime period with the game-winning goal, her third of the game, sending the fourth-seeded Commodores to the semifinals with a 3-2 victory in the PSAL Class A girls soccer quarterfinals Tuesday in Queens.
“We didn’t play our best, but I’m still so relieved, excited, and beyond happy right now,” Bayside coach Maggie Kassimis said. “I thought Danielle was getting two or three goals for sure today, and she came up big.”
After the almost predictable late game-tying goal from Glazer to end regulation, Bayside nearly gave the game right back as LaGuardia controlled the ball for most of the first overtime. If not for two solid saves by Bayside keeper Vanessa Jimenez and clutch defensive play that prevented even more shots, the ball may have never reached Glazer’s foot just minutes later.
After a corner kick in the direction of the net in the 93rd minute ricocheted off of both Bayside and LaGuardia players, Glazer was somehow able to find the far right side of the goal with a shot in heavy traffic. It was her third goal of the game, 58th of the season, and possibly the biggest of her career.
“I’ve been taught that if I have one inch of space, I have to take the shot,” said Glazer. “All of my goals this year are big because they help the team, but the last one today means the most, because it means we’re going to the semifinals.”
With just a few minutes remaining on the clock, it looked like it would be LaGuardia moving on to the semis. After a Glazer goal in the 20th minute gave Bayside an early edge, Elena Moore and Megan Caccavale scored for LaGuardia in the 41st and 45th minute, respectively, setting an aggressive offensive tempo for the remainder of the second half. LaGuardia peppered Jimenez with shot attempts, but solid saves and shots sailing wide of the net kept the game within reach for Glazer.
“I was definitely a little nervous, like I’ve said, they’re the cardiac kids,” said Kissimis. “D.J. was amazing again, but I have to say that she’s surrounded by such a strong team with great players. Without girls like Hediye Karabay, who’s stepped up at her new midfield position, and Jimenez, who’s playing keeper for the first time this year, we wouldn’t be here.”
Even though LaGuardia was mere minutes away from victory, coach Ian Srebnick couldn’t be prouder of his tearful girls.
“That’s the nature of the sport,” Srebnick said. “It’s definitely a tough loss, but this may be the best team I’ve ever coached. The senior leadership from girls like Gabriele Davis has been phenomenal and how can you ever replace these girls? You can’t.”
Bayside may have punched its ticket to the semifinals in nerve-racking fashion, but Glazer knows that the momentum is on its side.
“We started slow and then realized our season was on the line,” she said. “This team works so hard, and I think we’ll be able to use this game as a confidence booster going forward.”