Jenna Borelli, strong defense help East Islip beat Rocky Point for Suffolk Class A girls soccer title
East Islip celebrates Jenna Borelli's goal during the Suffolk Class A girls soccer final against Rocky Point in North Babylon on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
What a difference a few weeks make.
Exactly three weeks ago, East Islip and Rocky Point took the field as the final two undefeated teams in Suffolk Class A girls soccer. A defeated East Islip team walked off the field following a one-goal loss, but the players were determined to generate a different result if they met again.
Boy, did East Islip do just that.
Second-seeded East Islip defeated No. 1 Rocky Point, 4-0, in the girls soccer Suffolk Class A final at North Babylon High School Tuesday afternoon.
"We knew we had it from the start with the energy we came out with," said Jenna Borelli, who had two goals and an assist. "Everyone was excited and ready to play and we wanted to get some revenge."
East Islip (14-1-4) advances to play the winner of Manhasset/South Side in the Long Island Class A championship/Southeast Regional Final at Shoreham-Wading River High School Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Rocky Point finishes 18-1.
"We really prepared and we learned from the mistakes from the first time we played them," coach Ben Diallo said. "We missed a lot of opportunities [in the last game] that could have given us a different outcome, so we worked on that and finishing and the results today showed that."
It’s East Islip’s first girls soccer county championship since 2008.
"It’s history to us," said Dylann Trahey, who added a goal. "We haven’t won it since 2008 and we wanted it so badly. We put all our effort on the field and our chemistry is incredible. We didn’t want it to end today."
Nikki Brunner anchored a defense that included Julianna Violi, Grace Williamson and Krista Deutsch with Izzy Kelly in goal and held the Rocky Point offense to just four shots on target.
"We knew they have some offensive players with a lot of speed," Brunner said. "So we knew if we shut them down in the middle of the field that they’re not going to be able to get up top."
Kate Alexander scored the game’s first goal and Alyssa Deutsch added an assist in the win.
All year, Diallo has stressed the importance of taking the season one game at a time. Now, that next one has a trip to Cortland and the state semifinals on the line.
"One thing I kept repeating all year long is 'We know where we’re going, but we have to take it one step at a time,"' Diallo said. "I never looked ahead, we always looked at what we have next and today was this game. Now that we are past it, next is to get ready for that next team."
