Twelve minutes were set to the clock, the players took to the field and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, the kickoff of the first football game of the season took place. From the start, Garden City (GC) showed its vivacity and determination. Only minutes after the kickoff, Dan Oppedisano had a 76-yard run to score the first touchdown of the season. The defense was able to hold off Mepham for the remainder of the quarter and the score remained 6-0.

In the second quarter, Mepham attempted to fight back. They had a long run down the field but the GC defense knocked the 'pirate' out of bounds just before a touchdown (TD) could be scored. With 5:32 left on the clock, Mepham was first and goal. The defense held up tough, as Mepham picked up half a yard, but were then stopped twice by GC defenders before they could convert. Mepham's Parshely finally broke through the tough GC line and scored. The kick was good to make the score 6-7 in favor of Mepham.

Then it was GC's turn. Oppedisano got the first down. O'Brien threw for a 20-yard gain to Flanagan; the play brought GC to Mepham's 30-yard line. O'Brien made another pass over the Pirates defense to Ginsberg down field. With 37 seconds left in the half, Oppedisano had a 4-yard carry to put GC at second and goal. With 11 seconds remaining, Chris Miller scored a field goal to end the half with GC 9, Mepham 7.

The third quarter started out with an amazing kick from Miller, which caused a touchback. At the 40-yard line Mepham attempted a pass, but Duffy deflected the ball. However, with 1:58 left in the third, the Pirates scored their second TD of the game. Mepham didn't attempt the field goal and Gibbons broke up their pass. The third ended with a score of 9-13, in favor of the Pirates.

GC didn't relent. With Griggs as quarterback, GC started to move its offense down field. Kennedy received a 5-yard pass from Griggs to move GC toward the goal line. Oppedisano's two carries then created the Trojan's first down. The ball was now on the 45-yard line. Oppedisano then had a 25-yard run on a side pitch. With about 30 seconds left in the game, Griggs made a 15-yard TD pass to Fargnoli. Miller's kick was good; the score was 16-13. The Pirates tried to fight back by making a long pass down the field, but Ginsberg was there to intercept the ball, which ultimately ended the game.

With a final score of 16-13, GC started its season out with a bang. From the beginning of the game to the end, all of GC's players performed with great determination and strength. The team got off to a great start and here's to a great season to come!

On the Garden City tennis courts, aces and deuces are not rare sights. An ace follows every deuce and the team has the record to prove it. The girl's tennis team has played three matches this season, and has been victorious in all of them.

In their first match against Wantagh, Garden City won with a final score of 6-1. With the season starting out so well, the girls hoped to maintain their "undefeated" status. In their second match, they faced Carle Place. The team went 7-0.

All the doubles and singles teams won their matches. Singles players Elena Apostolides, Melissa Baricar and Megan Allen all defeated their opponents as the doubles teams did dually as well - Melissa Pyschayan and Danielle Grigorian, Meghan Sullivan and Natalie Tinger, Christina Timmins and Marcella Venetzeila, as well as Jamie O'Sullivan and Stevie Turner all defeated their Carle Place competitors.

The team's third match took place on Thursday, Sept. 19. This time, their opponent was Carey. The girls yet again won their match with a final score of 5-2. The tennis team has gotten off to a great start! Good luck with the rest of the season!

The boys soccer team has gotten their season under way with victories. The team's season started on Sept. 12 against Oceanside. The first half was scoreless for both teams, but Garden City (GC) broke away in the second. John Adamo scored for GC, but Oceanside countered with another goal. However, with about 9 minutes left in the game, DeSimone scored to give GC the win.

On Sept. 19, the boys faced South Side. Adamo scored the only goal of the game in the second half for GC. GC's goalie, Torino, has already gotten off to a great start and helped lead the team to two victories. The team has also done very well in non-league games, defeating both Massapequa and Roslyn. Great job guys!

Even though it's still early in the season, the girls field hockey team has started off on the right foot, or cleat. Their first game of the season was on Sept. 14 as they faced Massapequa. Meghan Crisafulli got the season started by scoring two goals in the first quarter alone. Crisafulli also scored another goal, to bring her total to three for the game. Megan Werner also scored two goals for Garden City.

The second game took place on Sept. 17. The score, yet again, was 5-0 as the girls defeated Carle Place. This time, Erin Daly had three goals, while Lauren Gallagher and Jessie Riccio each had one. Garden City's defense played a tight game - only one ball got through to goalie O'Brien, which was blocked.

On Thursday, Sept. 19, the team faced Manhasset. Erin Daly, Brita Robson and Jessie Riccio scored goals. O'Brien had seven saves to maintain the winning score of 3-0. The girls are on their way to another great season!