(Uniondale, NY) Spirits were high as the FIT Women's soccer team travelled to Long Island to take on the Nassau Lions.  Knowing that the previous two matches with the lions were hard fought the women of FIT knew that had a fight ahead of them.  Seniors Karina Demirciyan, Lauren Fremgen, Rosie Witherell and Stephanie Dootz took the field knowing that their soccer careers were on the line.  Unfortunately, senior player Kesha Gorajia was unable to play due to an injury sustained in their last match.  

The energy from both teams remained high through the first fifteen minutes.  The play was back and forth and there was a hard fought battle in the midfield.  Dootz was joined by underclassmen Juliana Liberatore, Meagan Hilton and Monica Guerrero.  The Tigers caught a break in the 26th minute when Dootz drove to the end line and played a cross that dropped in over the Nassau keeper's hands and clipped in off the back post.  The lions were stunned but still their attack persisted.  Three minutes later a foul 40 yards out turned out to be the Tigers undoing.  A mishandled ball by keeper Samantha Berger gave the lions the chance to equalize.

During the second half the Lions and Tigers fought to a draw.  Many opportunities were had by both teams.  Some tactical changes by the Nassau Coach, had the Women of FIT playing defense more than they preferred but still the back line held them scoreless.  At the end of 90 minutes the score was 1-1 and both teams were exhausted.  

Tigers made some formation changes that seemed to play to their advantage.  Kirsten Henning, played the role of a single striker, and Demirciyan moved out of the defense to play as defensive center.  Megan Schroeder came on to replace Hunter Wellford, and the tigers went on attack, and attack they did.  A constant pressure on the Lions back line gave FIT many chances, one of which came in the second overtime period.  A shot was taken by Dootz that hit the crossbar and bounce back and down, However the Referee was unable to judge the balls position in relation to the line and play continued, Henning immediately followed up with another shot, which again appear to be clear out of the goal from the other side of the goal line.  Once again, unable to determine the ball's position in relation to the goal line play resumed.  The result of the two overtime periods remained the same as the original 90 minutes.  The game was to be decided by penalty kicks.

"I brought the team into a huddle, and asked each girl if they could handle the PK, I knew who I wanted to take them, but I wasn't going to put a kid in there that was already having doubt, said Coach David Bevivino.

The Tigers sent Henning, Liberatore, Fremgen, Demirciyan, and Witherell to the center to carry their team.  Samantha Berger got some last minute advice from Bevivino before walking the loneliest walk for a goalie.  

Bevivino Commented "I hate putting a player in that position. I was a goalie myself, and there is nothing harder knowing that you have to go across the field by yourself and face a shot that you have such a low percentage of saving, and your team's season is riding on your shoulders.  It's terrible."

Five players from Nassau and five from FIT stood at centerfield waiting for their chance to secure their teams victory.  Henning, Liberatore and Fremgen made their first 3 shots.  However Berger was unable to save Nassau's first three either.  FIT's Final two shooters were unable to covert and Nassau's 4th goal solidified the loss for the tigers.  The final decision is a draw with Nassau advancing on penalty kicks.

Bevivino reflected after the game, "I hate that I had to put that kind of pressure on them.  They are such good kids and to ask them to bear that responsibility, it's so hard for a coach.  I was 100% confident in the 5 girls I choose, and if I had to do it again, I would still send the same 5."

The Tigers finish their season 3rd in the region with a record of 4-6-2 overall and conference record of 4-3-2.