New York Post girls soccer beat writer Joseph Staszewski takes an inside look at Tuesday’s CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals.
Tuesday, Nov. 2
3:30 p.m. – Notre Dame Academy vs. St. Joseph Hill @ Miller Field
3:30 p.m. – St. Joseph by the Sea vs. Maria Regina @ Cardinal Spellman
St. Joseph Hill Hilltoppers
Record: 10-0-0
Player to Watch: Gianna Smith
Notre Dame Academy Gators
Record: 7-4-0
Player to Watch: Taylor Bonanno
Outlook: St. Joseph Hill had a bye in the first round courtesy of winning its second-straight unbeaten CHSAA Staten Island crown. Now its sights turn to winning another Archdiocesan title. The Hilltoppers are favorites again thanks to their superb midfield of Meghan Siller, Krista Spano and Sam Wysokowski. Star forward Gianna Smith has rounded into form after missing early games due to injury. Her team won both regular-season meeting against the Gators by a score of 2-0 and should get a tight contest again. NDA is coming off a, easy 6-0 win against Our Lady of Victory with Taylor Bonanno scoring four times. Coach Bill LaTour’s team has been stout defensively all season, but will need big offensive contributions from Sarah Barone-Stern, Amanda DeGeorge and Jackie McCaig if it wants to move on to the final.
Maria Regina Tigers
Record: 16-1-2
Player to Watch: Meghan Marcotte
St. Joseph by the Sea Vikings
Record: 8-2-0
Player to Watch: Kelly Oehm
Outlook: Like the Hilltoppers Sea got to sit out the quarterfinal round. They draw a worthy opponent in Bronx/Westchester winner Maria Regina. The Tigers dominated the division for the most part with a balanced attack led by Meghan Marcotte, who had 27 goals and 15 assists. Maria Regina beat St. John Villa, the fourth place finisher on Staten Island, 2-0, during the season. Sea is hoping for another chance at an Archdiocesan crown, after losing 1-0 to Hill a year ago. Forward Kelly Oehm has been the team’s rock all season, but has had plenty of help around her in do-it-all midfielder Kelly Walsh, Christie Colangelo and Melissa Gelardi. A quick start could go a long way for a Sea team that can really clam down defensively with a lead.