The Catskill Chronicle

Manor’s Kaitlyn Hare mirrors the pain of defeat.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

Head’s Up! Smithtown’s Julia Tomlinson.

MIDDLETOWN – Wednesday afternoon’s Class D quarter-final regional tournament soccer matchup between Section 9 champs the Lady Wildcats of Livingston Manor and the Knights of Smithtown Christian, the Section 11 winners, at Middletown High School’s Faller Field was a story of halves.

In the first half, the Knights dominated Manor and the second frame devastated their opponents, as the team noted for its speed on the field raced to a 5-0 victory.

Smithtown’s Chelsea Bellini picked up a hat trick during the game, scoring the first of her three goals in the opening frame at 21:55 to put the Knights up 1-0 at the half. Then, at 27:23 in the second period, Bellini was back in action as she scored off an assist from Christina Casamassina.

Manor’s ace in the hole, goalie Angela Trotti, defended against 39 shots of goal.

Within a time span of less than seven minutes, the Knights iced the match with a series of three rapid fire goals: Casamassina at 12:17, Casamassina off an assist by Emily Drzymala at 8:17; and Bellini’s third goal of the game at 5:22.

Stats: keeper saves (Manor’s Angela Trotti 30, Smithtown’s Brittany Drzymala 3); shots on goal (Manor 3, Smithtown 39); corner kicks (Manor 0, Smithtown 10).

“We knew coming in the game was going to be exceptionally fast and skilled,” said Shirlee Davis, coach of the Lady Wildcats. (11-5-1).

Noting that several of her booters weren’t up to speed after missing a few recent practices due to illness, Davis said, “We couldn’t run the offense and push up as a team.”

Battling for control of the ball are Manor’s Emily Casey and Smithtown’s Chelsea Bellini.

“In the second half we tried to make some adjustments, but I think the girls were intimidated by the speed, so instead of pushing up and playing offense, they didn’t and played defense.”

Davis was esthetic in singing the praises of her senior goalie Angela Trotti, who in the match against the Knights, defended against a whopping 39 shots on goal.

“She played her best game of the year, she gave 110%, and kept us in the game during the first half.”

Davis reflections of the season?

“We did the best we could, and the seven seniors have a lot to be proud of…they took the team to the regionals.”

4 x 4 Soccer: Smithtown’s Rebecca Voisich and Manor’s Maggi Calo.

Steven Chandler, coach of the Knights (10-4-1), summed up the victory. “All in all we did well. We moved the ball well, and that’s the kind of game we play. We move the ball well, use the space and use our speed.”

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