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Sports

Lady Lions Look to Avenge County Final Loss in 2011

Girls soccer team will have to replace star goaltender Samantha Whitney if they want to contend.

Head Coach: Nick Greico

Record last year: 15-2-3, .

Key Departure: GK Samantha Whitney.

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Games to watch: @ Smithtown West (9/14 4:30 p.m.) @ Connetquot (10/19 4:15 p.m.)

A shootout loss in the Suffolk AA finals left the West Islip Varsity girls soccer team heartbroken. But as the summer ends, it will also provide the Lady Lions another title shot. 

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This season picked up right where it left off this past Saturday as West Islip hosted the Smithtown East Bulls in a non-league game.  If opening day wasn’t enough to pump a team up, West Islip used last season’s playoff defeat to drive them in a 3-0 victory.

 “There was extra motivation there after last year’s loss, and we came out and scored 30 seconds into the game, to set the tone,” head coach Nick Greico Said. “The first half was pretty even. During the second half, our organization, communication and fitness took over. We dominated the whole 40 minutes of the second half, to help get us the 3-0 win.”

A cornerstone of West Islip graduated last June and now leaves the Lady Lions forced to fill a void. had 13 shutouts last season and in 2009, earned All-County honors.

“We have four goalies, so it’s a real question mark in there,” Greico said. “It might rotate, depending on who we play or how they practice. We’re looking to fill the spot and all four are challenging for the position.

Senior Kelsey Olhbaum was given the nod for Saturday's victory and didn’t allow a single goal.

West Islip lost six players to graduation, with eight starters returning. Greico said the team needs to fill another hole in the sweeper part of the game, but said it could get done.

“A lot of our success relies on our underclassman,” he said. “The seniors will be extremely motivated. Sophomores and juniors need to elevate their games with practices and games on the fields."

Something else will be different for the Lady Lions. They will be playing in League II, instead of their usual foes. This league consists of four of the top five teams in last year’s Suffolk AA bracket. West Islip was ranked fifth, and the top three are now season opponents for it.

“It’s going to be an uphill challenge,” Greico said. “If we can get into the playoffs playing good soccer, playing with some of the best teams in the league, we have a great chance to make a run in the playoffs.

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