No matter how much past success Long Island City’s had over the last two seasons, there is still a different feeling when the Bulldogs know Forest Hills is on the opposing sideline.
“This always has been our biggest competition,” junior Geraldine Huisa said. “We were nervous when we started.”
Long Island City again got its toughest game of the season so far. The two-time defending division champion’s explosive offense was nearly shutout in the first half had it not been for a hand ball and penalty kick goal by Alison Dowdle. But LIC broke out and scored twice in the first four minutes of the second half of a 4-1 win over host Forest Hills in Queens A-VI girls soccer Tuesday.
“I told them let’s wake up and let me see the usual LIC team,” coach Mark Skorupski said.
Forest Hills finished second the last two years and handed the Bulldogs their only league loss last year. Long Island City’s next closest game was a 4-0 win over Arts & Business. The biggest different in his eyes was the passing. There wasn’t enough of it in the first half and when they did they were off the mark or taken away by a Forest Hills defenders.
“They started passing the ball better and we ended up with those two goals,” Skorupski said.
Dowdle shot a through ball out to the right side that Stephanie Escala drilled it into the upper 90. A minute later Escala, the team’s workhorse at midfield, fed Huisia got a goal to give LIC, ranked No. 9 in the PSAL by the Post, a 3-0 lead. She scored again with 30 seconds left in the game.
“It was such an unbelievable feeling,” said Dowdle, who has 13 goals and five assists, of the quick outburst. “It was a relief.”
The Rangers didn’t really give LIC a chance to relax. Huisa said the team’s young defense is still a work in progress. Jackelin Brito had a shot sail just wide and then rifled a shot off the crossbar. In the 48th minute, Lina Dominguez bent a corner kick into the near post to cut the lead to 3-1. Forest Hills (4-2-0) couldn’t take advantage of two free kicks just outside the box, including one Dominguez put just over the crossbar.
“I would say we dominated 60 minutes of the game, but we couldn’t finish,” Rangers coach Bob Sprance said. “That’s been our problem all year.”
LIC (6-0-0) is looking for a better finish to its season than last. It’s advanced a game further in the playoffs each of the last two years and the goal is to reach the quarterfinals this time around. Skorupski has tried to add more challenging non-league games and scrimmages, including a meeting Wednesday with defending PSAL champion Beacon. LIC has also faced Francis Lewis, Bayside and Cardozo. Dealing with nerves is something LIC will need to get used to.
“Emotions got the best of us,” Dowdle said. “We knew how to handle it. We started to wake up and common sense hit us when halftime came. We knew we had to boost it up.”