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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Emotion ran high for Grand Street after Tuesday’s game, because winning the division title wasn’t easy — especially when it came to beating Leon Goldstein.
The Wolves used a big second half to best the Dolphins 3–2 in Brooklyn A-VII girls’ soccer at Dyker Beach Park on Oct. 14. Grand Street, needing at least a tie to claim the crown, out-scored Goldstein 3–1 after the break.
Tears flowed from Wolves coach Andre Lamy while addressing his team after they mobbed him in celebration. His unbeaten club, which features seven freshman, didn’t gel well early in the season, but came together to claim its second comeback victory over second-place Goldstein. The Wolves won without three starters, including defender and senior captain Karina Osorio.
“It’s emotional for me just knowing where I’ve been with these individual girls, bringing them together, and all the hard work paid off,” Lamy said.
He shared a long post-game hug with sophomore defender Diana Aucapina crying in his arms. It was Aucapina, a transfer from Robert F. Wagner, who scored the winning goal in the 78th minute. Her 20-yard blast from the left side hit off the hands of Goldstein keeper Chanel Jemmott and bounced just over the goal line before she could be retrieve it.
“Our coach, he never gave up on us,” Aucapina said. “You used to tell us don’t give up. Keep pressuring. Keep doing this. We listened and we won.”
Grand Street (11–0–0) thought it had the winning score in the 65th minute when a Jocelyn Aguilar’s shot when off Jemmott’s hands and behind her, but the ref ruled it didn’t go past the goal line. Goldstein coach Joanna Soares wasn’t sure either was a goal, but Grand Street believed it was a fitting way to win.
“The second time around he probably felt like he owed us one,” Lamy said of the referee.
Goldstein (8–2–0) led 1–0 at the half thanks to Dianna Burorowes kicking in the rebound of an Emily Ourzdine corner kick in the 10th minute. The Dolphins dominated possession in the first half, but only came away with the one goal, knowing Grand Street was a strong second-half team. In the teams’ first meeting, the Wolves rallied from 3–1 down at the half to win 5–4.
“Our team always starts off strong and then our defense usually gets tired,” said Goldstein coach Joanna Soares. “I always say to the kids you have to always score early on.”
The Wolves drew even off the opening kickoff of the second half when Zahuantitla scored off a pass from Guadalupe Navarette. They took a 2–1 lead after Zahuantitla scored on a break away in the 54th minute. Goldstein knotted the score up again when Rorie St. Lawrence found an open Margaret Edwards in the box for a 58th minute goal, but the Dolphins couldn’t find the back of the net again.
Instead, Grand Street completed its rally and proved how far it has come as a unit. Watching Lamy cry afterwards was confirmation of a job well done.
“That means we did a really good job,” Zahuantitla said. “We made him happy. We made him really happy.”