Uniondale, NY—Now matter what sport you play, you certainly don’t want to see one particular team more than three times in one season. Statistically, when this happens, the team that has had success early usually loses the later matches. That form held true, as the Rough Riders avenged their early season loses to the New York Freedoms this past Saturday, August 11 with a 5-3 win in a shutout Quarterfinal Playoff game at the MAC.
New York had the success early on in their season going 6-1 in their first seven games while the Riders went 3-3-1. The Freedoms took the first two matches against the Rough Riders only to see Long Island rebound and take the rubber match of the three game series, and the first round playoff game as well.
The Freedoms, literally took the early lead, scoring just 15 seconds into the match on a goal by Jesse Van Saun assisted by Nick Christopher. Despite getting the quick goal, the Freedoms looked like they were playing without the lead as they continued to push the ball up the field, bypassing their midfielders. Momentum can swing fast in the playoffs, and this young Rider team was witness to this. As fast as New York gained the lead, they let it slip away. In the 20th minute, Brett Davis notched his second goal of the season, and first of the playoffs for the Riders of great pass from Cordt Weinstein. Sensing the Freedoms on their heels, the Rough Riders began to apply more pressure on the stunned Freedoms.
Then four minutes later, in the 24th minute, Assistant Coach, John Diffley playing left back put his team down a goal as he head in a Georges Haba cross. As Haba hit the cross it looked like it would harmlessly sail over the end line for a Freedoms goal kick, but for some reason, Diffley decided to head the ball away from danger and placed it in the back of his own net. The Riders lead would only last for ten minutes, as Ben Hickey converted a Mario Gallo pass to tie the match at 2-2 at the half.
That would prove to be all the offense in regulation as Billy Gatti made an outstanding save on a point blank shot by Van Saun. Then after 120 minutes of great end-to-end playoff soccer, the two teams squared off in a shutout to determine who would advance to the semifinal match. In nearly 78 minutes of soccer since halftime, neither team had made a costly mistake, now it all came down to who would make it first!
First up for the Riders was Fausto Klinger and he gave the Rough Riders the lead drilling home the penalty kick 1-0. Gatti was unable to stop the Freedoms on their first shot so both teams headed to their seconds shot tied at 1-1. Weinstein kept the pressure on New York beating Peter Zaratin for the second tally for Long Island, and then watched as the Freedoms tied it once again, at 2-2. For the third shot Scott Leber walked up to the spot placed the ball, and waited for the referee’s signal. As he waited, he calmly bounced back and forth to find a rhythm, and then tickled the twine putting the Riders ahead 3-2 with two shots left. Ben Hickey was the next shooter for the Freedoms, and just barley squeezed it by a diving Gatti to even the score at 3-3.
Then it was Gatti’s time to shine. Gatti, one of the best all-around and most athletic players on the team would get his chance to test his fellow keeper Zaratin. There was not contest as Gatti dropped the ball behind a slow Zaratin to push Long Island ahead with a 4-3 advantage. Once again, momentum was leaning in Long Island favor. After his goal, Gatti jumped back in between the pipes and pounced on Ben Diallo’s shot deflecting it wide holding the lead for the Riders. After the save, Gatti was on the ground, appearing to injure his shoulder. Thanks to his save though, all Christer Arnesen had to do was bury the ball and the Riders and their fans would go home happy.
The injury to Gatti would not affect the Rough Riders as Arnesen, who had tried out for the Freedom, but did not like the Head Coach Dave Price, netted the game winner to advance the Riders to the Semifinals of the D3 Pro League Playoffs.
The win extends Long Island’s winning streak to six, and they have now won 10 of their last 11 matches reaming the hottest team in the league. They now wait to play the winner of the Western Mass. vs. Connecticut semifinal next weekend at the MAC.
Riders Game Notes: The Freedoms down fall in the final seven games could be traced back to the decision of Head Coach Dave Price to sign goalkeeper Peter Zaratin out of retirement and bench starting keeper John ‘Jay’ Palmer. In his first 13 games, Jay collected 9 wins with 4 loses. In Zaratin’s last eight matches, he finished with a 4-4 record. Palmer is also considered a better keeper in a shutout situation than Zaratin as well. One can only guess what the Freedoms coaching staff was thinking with this decision.
