Bayport-Blue Point girls soccer turns the tables with win over Kings Park

The postgame celebration made it clear that this match meant more than just your typical regular-season contest.

The Bayport-Blue Point girls soccer team only lost two regular-season games last season, but one came to Kings Park in double-overtime. It was also the Phantoms' first loss of the season, ruining any hopes of a perfect season, and the feeling afterward wasn’t forgotten 12 months later.

“I think it was how hard it hit after we lost,” sophomore midfielder Mia McCormack said. “After that final whistle blew and that goal went in, we all hung our heads and this game was really just our revenge.”

After the final whistle in a 2-0 victory for Bayport-Blue Point (9-1-1, 7-1) over host Kings Park (5-3-2, 5-2-1) in Suffolk League VII girls soccer play on Wednesday night, the players charged goalkeeper Alex Kaler in celebration.

“We knew we had to win this game to prove everyone wrong in a way,” junior forward Connor Leahy said. “Last year we lost to them in double overtime, so we had a fire in our hearts to beat them to get back at them and get revenge in a way.”

Leahy opened the scoring on a penalty-kick goal with 14:37 left in the first half for her 15th goal in 11 games. She said she told herself she would score and the goalie wouldn’t stop her. She was correct.

“Connor has ice in her veins and it’s never really a question as to whether or not she’s going to capitalize on something like that,” coach Katina Cokinos said. “She’s been in that spot before . . .  it wasn’t even a question. We knew she was going to bang that one in.”

McCormack scored the second goal off a 29-yard free kick with 31:35 left in the second half. She lined up in the center of the field before sending the ball to the top-right corner of the goal.

“I just wanted to clear my mind,” McCormack said. “I knew I had to put it away. The 1-0 lead was not enough and we needed more so I just took a deep breath, leaned over the ball and stepped into it.”

The Bayport-Blue Point defense, including Aila Cahill, Kaelyn Walsh, Lilly McInnes, Emma Brown and Emma Karafantis with Kaler’s four saves, had another strong performance as the team has only allowed six goals this season.

Wednesday was another reminder that with the Suffolk Class A playoffs just a few weeks away, the Phantoms believe they can go on a deep postseason run.

“They want it and I think that’s a huge part of this team is ‘Why not us,?’” Cokinos said. “We want it.”