Sachem Sonic Capture LI Cup Soccer Championship

The Sachem Sonic (Girls U11) won their first LI Cup championship on June 15, beating the New York Hota Lightning, 3-1, capping off a remarkable season and run to the championship.

The Hota Lightning had only allowed one goal in their bracket while advancing to the final, but the Sonic equaled that just five minutes of the game when Joelle “Jo-Jo” Russo scored in the first five minutes off a great feed from Amanda Szollosi to put Sachem up 1-0. 

The Lightning tied the game just before the half and both teams played deep into the second half deadlocked at one.

With 10 minutes left, Russo pounced on a loose ball just inside the 18 yard box and drove it past the New York goalie to give Sachem a 2-1 lead. The Lightning pressed hard for the tie but Sonic’s goalie Madison “Matty” Drago turned aside several quality scoring chances.

With just a few minutes left in the game, Samantha Yaker emerged from a goalmouth scramble with the ball and carried it the length of the field. Yaker eventually found Russo who completed the hat trick from 25 yards out to secure the championship for Sachem. 

Road to the Championship

The title game was emblematic of the Sonic’s season. The team’s road through the Long Island Cup was eventful to say the least. After beating the Mineola Honey Badgers 2-0 in the opening round the Sonic got a scare from the Merrick Riptide in Round Two. 

In that game, Sachem and Merrick were tied 1-1 late in the game, when Szollosi scored to give the Sonic a 2-1 lead and, seemingly, the victory. However, the Riptide answered in the final minute to send the game to overtime. 

Less than two minutes into the extra session Szollosi picked up a loose ball and dished to Jadyn Simmons who found Russo flying down the right side. Russo blew past two defenders and sent a rocket into the top corner, sending the Sonic onto the next round with a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime.

Sachem beat the Center Moriches Fire, 2-1, in a third-round game played in a torrential rain/wind storm at the Sachem soccer complex. As was the case all season, the Sonic received shutdown defensive play from their backline, led by Yaker, Jessica Phillips, Ashley Nash and Gabrielle Furci - as well as outstanding goaltending from Drago to advance to the semifinals. 

One Last Hurdle

To advance to the championship game, the Sonic had to beat the West Babylon Courage.Sachem got off to a fast start as Russo tallied twice in the game’s first 12 minutes to give Sachem the lead. The Courage fought back and cut the lead to 2-1 just before halftime. 
 
In the second half, the Sonic started quickly to put the game away. This time it was two big goals from Alexia Rojo and several key saves from Drago that enabled the Sonic to escape with a 4-2 win. Hard working Kristiana Brunder set up Rojo's first goal to put Sachem up 3-1.

The Courage answered, cutting the lead to 3-2 and pressed for the tie late in the second half. This time it was Julia Lang making the big defensive play - carrying the ball the length of the field before finding Loredana Liebmann who patiently drew two defenders and dished to Rojo, who put the game away with her second goal of the half sending the Sonic to the LI Cup Finals.

The full Sonic championship roster includes: Kristiana Brunder, Madison Drago, Gabrielle Furci, Julia Lange, Loredana Liebman, Nina Matusiak, Cara McCarthy, Jessica Miklitsch, Ashley Nash, Jessica Phillips, Alexia Rojo, Joelle Russo, Jadyn Simmons, Amanda Szollosi and Samatha Yaker.

Guiding the team to the LI Cup championship were Head Coach Jim Szollosi, Assistant Coach Don Furci and New York Red Bulls trainer David Franklin.