Sachem East wins Long Island soccer title on penalty kick

Sachem East defeated Oceanside to claim the Long Island Class AAA girls soccer championship on Sunday night. The match at Farmingdale State ended in a 0-0 draw through regulation and overtime. The final result was a 1-0 win, determined by a 4-3 penalty kick shootout.

Goalkeeper Paige Seaman anchored the defense. She recorded nine saves during the 120 minutes of play. In the penalty shootout, she stopped two attempts. Both stops came when she dived to her left and batted the ball down with her hands.

Sachem East converted its first three penalty kicks. Braelin Fernandes, Gabriella Arculeo and Ella Scotti all scored. The pressure then shifted to sophomore Audrey McCarville. With the count tied at three, she struck the ball with her right foot. It went into the bottom left corner to seal the victory.

Oceanside controlled possession and outshot the Nassau team. Coach Danielle Chiera noted that her players had the ball in their opponents' half frequently. She said the team was resilient but could not find the back of the net. Defenders Aaliyah Hollis and Nicolette Sevimlioglu made key plays to limit Oceanside's chances.

This is the program's first Long Island title since 2007. The roster includes only one senior, Aubree Ellis. Ellis served as a team captain and said the group worked together as a family throughout the season. She described the win as a dream that finally came true.

Coach Glen Monsen said he never doubted the team's ability. He described the squad as talented, tough and smart. The team will now face the Section I or Section IX champion in a regional final on Saturday.