FREEPORT

Friday’s high school girls Class B South preliminary soccer game for Freeport was like any other game to the players. The Falcons took the field knowing if they executed what they’ve done all season, they liked their chances to advance.

The No. 6 seeded Falcons were all business, scoring a goal in each half and coming away with a 2-1 victory over No. 11 Lincoln Academy.

Freeport will travel to No. 3 Greely for a quarterfinal match on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.

“Everybody gets amped up, it’s the tournament. During practices we worked on keeping everyone composed,” said Freeport coach David Intraversato. “We worked on our touches and passes to keep everyone sharp. These girls worked hard this week and came together today.”

The Falcon defense immediately bottled up the Lincoln Academy offense, limiting its scoring opportunities, primarily its corners from the onset.

“We have been trying to limit our corner kicks, as we gave up a lot of them this year,” said Intraversato.

Both teams came out in the contest feeling each other out. The two teams had not faced each other during the regular season, but met last season in a prelim with the Falcons coming out on top, 3-1.

Lincoln Academy’s Chelsea Williams took the first shot of the game when she booted a shot off an indirect kick, sailing it just over the top bar of the net. Attacker Allison Greuel of Freeport put a shot on goal moments later off a throw-in, but Eagles goalie Kortney McKenna made the stop.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard with 11:32 left in the first half when Tara Migliaccio drew the Lincoln Academy defense to her, freeing Cat Gould. Migliaccio tapped her the ball and Gould blasted a shot past McKenna for the score.

“It was important to get that first goal to get our confidence up so we can keep pressuring and hopefully get more,” said Gould.

After some brief congratulatory hugs, the Falcons went back to midfield, ready to get back to business.

“Our team knew we had to take care of business today,” said Intraversato. “They wanted this, they worked hard to get here.”

“That’s what we wanted to do. Keep our composure and keep moving forward,” added Gould.

On the rare occasions that Lincoln Academy ventured into the Falcons’ zone, the defense kept the Eagles at bay. Lincoln Academy took six first-half shots, all from outside the box or further.

“We knew they did a lot of one-touch passes. We were able to anticipate what they were going to do a lot and that helped up,” said senior Jessie Driscoll. “I have a lot of faith in our defense. When they need to get things done, they do it.”

Freeport (11-4) took the 1-0 lead into the half, allowing two corners and a pair of shots on goal, while taking seven shots of its own.

Freeport opened the second frame continuing its pressure on Lincoln Academy, specifically netminder McKenna. Seven minutes into the half, Migliaccio and Taylor Rinaldi each took uncontested shots on net. The senior goalie came up big, making both saves to keep her team within a goal.

That changed 8:45 into the half when Driscoll picked up a loose ball after it bounced off a defender and legged it from 25-yards out. The ball sailed over McKenna and into the net.

“I saw that I had the open shot so I figured why not take it,” said Driscoll. “Again, we were about being all business today, we wanted to win this and move on.”

Freeport remained strong on offense, adding up shots and corners on the visitors. Freeport forced eight second half corners while taking 11 shots.

Lincoln Academy took its first (and only) corner of the half 18 minutes in. Williams lofted the ball from the left corner, only to have it bounce back to her. The sophomore took Lincoln Academy’s first shot of the half. The ball curved and over Freeport goalie Carly Intraversato to find the back of the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.

The Eagles nearly got the equalizer six minutes later when Lincoln Academy’s Emily Kelsey beat Intraversato to a loose ball at the top of the box. Kelsey got around the keeper for what seemed to be an open net to shoot at. But Freeport’s Johanna Bogue-Marlowe slipped over, knocking the ball loose from Kelsey and clearing it out of danger.

“Jo’s been rock solid back there for us this year. She’s been one of leaders back there on defense,” said the Freeport coach.

Freeport tightened the reigns from there. Intraversato stopped another Williams blast with 1:45 remaining for one of her three saves . Freeport only allowed four Lincoln Academy second-half shots and the one corner kick.

For the game, Freeport outshot the Eagles, 19-10, and held the advantage in corners, 9-3. McKenna finished with nine saves in net for the Eagles, who finished the season 6-7-2.

Freeport lost to Greely 3-1 in the second game of the season. The Falcons look to take their momentum on the road.

“They came out on us quick. We have to limit that initial out of the gate drive,” said David Intraversato. “They are well-coached and have some good players over there, so we will have to step up.”

No. 6 Freeport 2,
No. 11 Lincoln 1

Class B South Preliminary
At Hunter Road Fields in Freeport
Lincoln Academy — 0 1 — 1
Freeport — 1 1 — 2
Goals — (LA) Chelsea Williams, (F)
Cat Gould, Jessie Driscoll.
Assists — (F) Tara Migliaccio.
Shots on goal — Freeport 19, Lincoln Academy 10.
Saves — (LA) Kortney McKenna 9,
(F) Carly Intraversato 3.
Corners kicks — Freeport 9, Lincoln
Academy 3.
Records — Freeport 11-4, Lincoln
Academy 6-7-2.
Up next for the Falcons — Class B
South quarterfinal, Tuesday at Greely,
6 p.m.

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