MSIT sophomore Jackie Bruno scored a goal and had an assist in a 2-1 win over Tottenville Sunday. (DEnis Gostev)
One loss was enough for Samantha Cunzo.
The senior suffered her first ever regular season setback on Columbus Day to Susan Wagner, with MSIT losing key players to their club soccer teams. Cunzo made it known to her teammates that she wasn’t missing out on a chance to claim a share of the PSAL Staten Island A girls soccer title with a win over Tottenville on Senior Day.
“I was like girls, ‘I have one blemish on [my] high school career record and my season and I am not having another one,” Cunzo said.
She got her wish.
MSIT scored twice early in the first half and held on for a 2-1 win over Tottenville at the College of Staten Island Sunday morning. The victory gives the Sea Gulls a share of the crown with the Pirates and likely a higher seed in the PSAL playoffs, which begins next Saturday. The teams played to a scoreless tie in their first meeting. It is the fourth straight McKee/Staten Tech, the defending city champions, has finished in first place.
“We definitely didn’t want another loss because everyone took the [one] loss really hard,” sophomore Jackie Bruno said.
The Sea Gulls caught the Pirates off guard at the outset. Bruno sent a perfect cross to an open Cunzo at the top of the box on the near side. She scored to the fair side post to give MSIT the game’s first goal in the 4th minute.
Bruno later created a goal on her own. She stole the ball from Kasey Murphy in the box and then drilled a shot to the top far corner of the goal.
“I couldn’t [give up],” Bruno said. “Everyone wants to score so bad and when you are given the opportunity and have a feeling where you could possibly get it, you are not going to give up.”
Tottenville (10-1-1) put tremendous pressure on MSIT (10-1-1) in between its two scores. The Pirates managed five corner kicks and saw a 20-yard shot from Brianna Castaldo hit off the cross bar. Jessica Chung made two of her seven saves during that time, including one on a header by Veronica Bulger. Cunzo described that period as “heart attack after heart attack.”
“My defense did a great job all year,” MSIT coach Joanna Santarpia said. “We have only allowed [seven] goals only.”
Tottenville did get on the board when a charging Kaitlyn Regan scored on a cross from Brittany Sheeran in the 55th minute. Sheeran then provided the Pirates best chance to tie when she poked a shot just wide of the far post five minutes from full time.
MSIT staged a mild celebration after the final whistle blew with a few cheers and hugs. The real party began later when players rubbed the cream from the senior’s cake in each other’s faces.
“Losing all the girls [from last year],” Bruno said, “and knowing we can come back and do it again is a great feeling.”