By PAUL GOTHAM
WAYNE, N.Y. — Nestled between a pair of matches against state-ranked sides came a road tilt versus a squad looking to rebound from its first loss in three weeks.
The possibility of overlooking an opponent presented itself as the Aquinas girls’ soccer team (No. 14 NYSSWA Class A) headed east on Route 104 to face Wayne, Thursday night.
The young Li’l Irish squad took advantage of the opportunity to show maturity.
Three different players found the back of the net in a convincing 4-nil win.
“What’s impressive is the young ladies train the way they play,” Aquinas head coach Adam Schwartz said of his squad’s approach to games. “That’s critical. We take our training sessions very seriously.”
The Li’l Irish dictated play from the opening kickoff pushing forward to earn a pair of corner kicks in the first seven minutes.
Fruits of their efforts came soon after that.
Sienna Fallone found the back of the net in the 10th minute, and Giulianna Tomaszewski added a goal less than three minutes later.
“We high pressed upfront,” Schwartz said. “It’s a commitment. It’s not only the first three players pressing, but it’s the midfield and our wide backs. It’s takes a full commitment because if a team does not press as one unit, they’re going to get exposed all over the pitch.”
Tomaszewski connected with 11 minutes remaining in the half, and Aquinas had more than what it needed for a sixth straight win.
13’ Giulianna Tomaszewski gives Aquinas a 2- nil lead. pic.twitter.com/E4Ye1B6yXz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 5, 2023
By the end of the opening 40 minutes, AQ had eight corner kicks while not conceding a set piece in its defensive end. The Li’l converted that to a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal.
“The bottom line is each match, we never want to get outworked, never,” Schwartz said. “There’s no excuse for it. That’s just the condition of one’s heart. We want to make sure that we have the strongest work ethic on the pitch. Sometimes, hey, we’re going to make mistakes. Technically it’s going to break down, but if our work ethic is there, that repairs a lot of mistakes.”
Liz Tantalo made three saves for the shutout – the sixth clean sheet of the season for the Aquinas defense.
The blanking was the first of the season for a Wayne squad that came in averaging better than three goals per match.
Schwartz credited his backline of Molly O’Toole, Talia Norton, Sam Marmo and Vivi Oliveri along with Lily Bell.
“They want to get a shutout for each other,” Schwartz said. “They want to defend for their lives for each other. They are all tenacious defenders. They take pride in defending. You have some youth players that defending is optional for them. Those five players commit to defending, and they take pride in it.”
Bella Muratore added a second-half goal with an assist from Savannah Sweet. Muratore also assisted on Tomaszewki’s first marker.
68’ Bella Muratore finds the back of the net to give Aquinas a 4-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/1Cxn2v24aP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 6, 2023
Aquinas (11-1-1) opened the week with a 4-1 win over Byron-Bergen (No. 7 NYSSWA Class C) and will host Pittsford Sutherland (No. 5 NYSSWA Class A) on Saturday.
Of the 26 players on the Aquinas roster, 16 are juniors, along with four sophomores, three ninth-graders and Marmo, who starts at outside back, is an eighth-grader.
Addison Rice cuts it back to line up a blast. Liz Tantalo makes her third save of the night. pic.twitter.com/x7ekJfikf4
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 6, 2023
Fallone, a ninth-grader, has 19 goals and seven assists on the season.
“We’ve been able to win some close matches, and that builds confidence,” Schwartz said.
Wayne (10-4-0) had won nine straight before falling to reigning Class B1 champion, Palmyra-Macedon on Tuesday.
The Eagles played Thursday’s match without injured starters Emma Lockwood, Diamond Parks as well as starting keeper, Rylie Pratt.
“We just need to get healthy,” Wayne head coach Bill Jordan said. “We’ll get there. We got enough kids who have played a lot of soccer that aren’t going quit and give up. We saw a lot here tonight that we can take into practice.”
Samantha Ray made five saves.
Wayne plays Mynderse in the opening round of the Finger Lakes East tournament next Tuesday.
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