Fight shuts down Pirates and Falcons
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For 63 minutes it was one of the best-played soccer games of the season, but all that effort by both teams went by the wayside when a multi-player fistfight broke out last night at Tottenville HS in Huguenot.
The host Pirates (second in the Island standings) held a 1-0 lead over third-place Susan Wagner at the 63-minute mark when Crystal Maialo took the ball down the left sideline and fired a pass to Kaitlyn Regan who was streaking toward the top of the box.
The freshman fired a 20-yarder into the lower left corner for a 2-0 lead, and that's when things got out of control. Maialo was running from behind the net to congratulate Regan when she was tripped by, or accidentally collided with Wagner's Valerie Incontrera. Each side offered contrary accounts of that detail. Maialo jumped to her feet, charged Incontrera, and started firing punches.
After the refs broke up the fracas, red cards were issued to Maialo and Incontrera as well as to Erica Bettini of Wagner.
"It's a shame it came to this," said SW coach Carleen Rago. "It was a terrific game and my girls were playing better than they have all year. I felt the whole thing started over an accidental collision, and when the refs met with us coaches, it was my decision to take my team off the field."
The altercation was a lose-lose situation for both teams as a decision on the outcome of the game will be made today by PSAL soccer commissioner Will Stasiuk.
"It was a very unfortunate incident," said Tottenville coach George Kaplan. "I've always taught my girls that if something like that happens, they are to go in the opposite direction and not get involved. It spoiled what was a terrific game."
Wagner had three opportunities to break the scoreless tie in the first half but a shot by Natalie Tombasco was stuffed at the goal-mouth, Jenna Smith fired just wide left from 20-yards out and Lisa Keevill had a 15-yarded stopped by Tot goaltender Veronica Bulger.
At the other end Wagner sweeper Samantha Malec led a stingy defense that held the Pirates to five shots on goal as the half ended without either team registering a goal.
Two minutes into the second half Wagner goalkeeper Maggie Studsrud was injured in a collision in front of the net and had to leave with a bloody nose.
Just 14 minutes later Maialo charged down the left wing and fired a 15-yarder just inside the left post to give the Tots a 1-0 advantage.
Minutes later the craziness began.
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