Morgan Farrell scores and Sayville's defense does the rest in win over Islip
Sayville's Morgan Farrell moves the ball in the second half during a Suffolk girls soccer game against host Islip on Monday. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Morgan Farrell felt this could be one and the Sayville striker also knew against a team like Islip, there wouldn’t be many opportunities to finish one.
Just past the midway point in the first half, Sophia Buffardi sent a long pass through the air toward the goal. Farrell gazed at the ball in the air and knew she had to get to the perfect position to finish it.
“It was floating, I feel like forever,” Farrell said. “I realized it was going to come short a little bit so I just went with it and beat my defender and it was just a beautiful ball. She plays balls like that all the time, I think the wind was in our favor and we practice those all the time.”
Farrell headed in the ball near the goal that flew more than 20 yards in the air off Buffardi’s foot for the game’s lone goal as Sayville defeated host Islip, 1-0, in Suffolk League VII girls soccer play on Monday.
“I didn’t know where it was going to go actually, but Morgan’s been killing it,” Buffardi said, “so I knew if I put it into space, she’ll get there and she did it and that was amazing.”
The two connected with 16:24 left in the first half and Sayville got a strong defensive effort from a back line that included Erin Burke, Abigail Schroeder, Maddie Andersen and Lucy Livingston with goalkeeper Olivia Moynihan making six saves.
“I told them to play the first half like that’s your last half of the season and I feel like they did,” coach John Burke said. “They scored a brilliant goal and we were able to defend from there.”
Sayville improved to 6-0-2, including 6-0-1 in Suffolk VII. Islip fell to 7-2, including 6-1 in the league.
“They know the big games on our calendar and they know this is one of them,” Burke said. “With Islip not having lost [in league play], they knew this was going to be a big challenge and I feel they rose to the challenge.”
The Golden Flashes have only allowed three goals this season. They scored one goal in their two ties, so the offense wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be the reason for another draw.
“We’ve been tying a lot of games lately and our defense and goalie have been playing great. So it’s time for us to put one in the back of the net I feel like,” Farrell said. “It was due.”