In 1993, a group of third-grade girls wanted to play travel soccer in the Long Island Junior Soccer League after winning in CYO to see how good they could be. The players picked their team name, their coach stepped up and the Manhasset Bullets story began. So how have they done? Eight years later, many of the same girls from the dusty field are still playing on the Manhasset Bullets 16-year-old team. This fall, these bold, beautiful, blazing Bullets captured the Division Two championship of the Long Island Junior Soccer League for their fifth division championship in the league!

Any player, sports fan, or coach knows how hard it is to win a championship at any age, in any league. When you add in competition from one of the best youth soccer leagues in the country coupled with all players at the Bullets level being high school age and on club teams that have won major divisions before, you have a keenly competitive arena that by design matches the best teams on Long Island against each other.

For an understanding of what the Bullets teammates have accomplished, consider this: The Bullets have played in Long Island Junior for seven years. Each team starts at the bottom of the division ladder and only moves up by either winning a division or being a close runner-up. By successfully qualifying to play in a higher division each year, this fun-loving, fear-none, close-knit squad of female athletes has recorded a winning percentage of 81 percent in over 200 league and approved tournament games against over 3,000 players from Brooklyn to Mattituck and from Florida to Maine.

The opposing teams that the Bullets compete against have acclaimed athletes and players with as much skill, focus and desire as the Bullets; however, none of the teams to date have had the guts, class, determination, team chemistry and belief in themselves that the Bullets do. While other clubs at this level have seasonal tryouts and players are cut and replaced on performance, the Bullets' attitude and commitment from players, coaches, and trainers of "you can do it!" ... "I've got your back!" pushing each other while selflessly giving 110 percent is the strength this team draws upon to successfully challenge any opponent!

Early in the year, looking ahead to D-2, the Bullets coach knew that the competition would be physically tougher with shoulder to shoulder play and fiercely contested 50/50 balls from touchline to touchline which would require stronger endurance, faster speed and a quicker reaction to tactical options for each player under pressure. To begin preparing for the future, the players accepted the coach's challenge to play in an indoor winter league against state select and other premier squads for the sole purpose of improving possession skills and movement without the ball.

To be physically stronger the team again accepted the coach's challenge to spend late summer in Maine hiking, running, and competing against older high school teams to be game ready by Labor Day. The players, coaches and trainers practiced, scrimmaged and hung out together on the fields and the lake having fun and looking forward to their season. The final tune up was the East Meadow all Long Island Tournament where the Bullets won the high school division championship tournament while being undefeated and unscored upon.

When the league season started in early September, the first three games found the Bullets away against a hungry, bruising Lindenhurst team, home against the premier Huntington Club, and away for a grudge match against the Rockets of South Merrick.

Before the first game, the players looked at each other and knew that although they were starting the D-2 season with a new keeper, she was Kendra Bernard, a great athlete, experienced field player, and long term teammate who had learned from Peter Z, the best keeper trainer at Globall Soccer and was a "gamer." Plus, Vicky Mauri was there to back her up! The team's defense was experienced, strong, and fast with Alexis Maruca as sweeper and Brittany Garel, Venice Bruno and Amy Torpe handling the defensive corners to shut down opposing wings. The Bullets center defender, Lauren Taylor, was as well playing the "stopper" position for the first time but her teammates were confident with the knowledge that she had paid her dues to earn the gunslinger position and was smart with great field vision and a smooth, strong clearing ability to distribute the ball for counter attacks. From the opening whistle and thundering volleys of the first game against Lindenhurst to the sizzling crossing passes of Huntington to the "kick and run" balls of South Merrick, this defensive squad held the opposition scoreless while the Bullets offensive firepower was red hot, scoring 15 goals in three games to enable the team to start the season with 3-0 record.

In the middle of the season the Bullets squared off at home versus Bethpage and Syosset and traveled to East Islip. Although the Bullets knew that Bethpage was the all Long Island Waldbaums Cup winner last season, they were confident. The game was rough and fast, with bodies flying, tight marking, and punishing tackles. Bethpage knew from the early games that the Bullets were the team to beat. After three weeks off because of the Jewish holidays and Columbus Day weekend and a little too confident, the Bullets players were stunned to find themselves at the short end of the 1-2 score at the final whistle. The team knew they had lost their focus and agreed they win as a team and lose as a team and it wouldn't happen again.

With the team in second place after the loss, the Bullets' mental toughness and tenacity on the field rose to a new level. East Islip, having been division champion contenders in prior years with all conference players and Syosset always tough were never able to gain control of the field as the Bullets midfielders, Sabrina Fitzig and Genelle Taney on the left side with Cassie Pond and Farrah Visslailli on the right and center half Ashley Devins ruling the middle, these smart athletes continually stepped up, created possession diamonds and delivered on target touch passes to blazing strikers for two more shutouts at 3-0 apiece.

Hitting the home stretch the Bullets faced the toughest part of the schedule against Farmingdale away and Wantagh Seaford and Patchogue Medford at home. Knowing the Farmingdale was only one point behind the Bullets in third place and had given up only two goals in six games while having a reputation in the league for jarring tackles and doubling "to the ribs" any player with the ball, the Bullets strikers knew they would have to play the fastest, strongest game of the season to penetrate the Farmingdale defense. Under gray, windy late afternoon thirty-degree conditions the Bullet's Rock 'N Roll rhythm ruled from net to net. With outside wings Nicole Ablbondandolo, Keegan Forte and Cindy Laplaige spreading the field and stretching the defense with style and smooth moves center striker Katie Donoghue time and again found a seam, drove inside or reversed the field and split defenders to shred the net five times for a commanding team victory! As the game ended and the snow was falling the Bullets knew they were ready for the top spot but Bethpage had to lose for our Bullets to be number one...the pressure mounted!

At home versus Wantagh Seaford in the next to last game of the season, the opposition played a defensive game with the strategy of playing for a tie. After hearing of the Bullets' balanced game, Wantagh positioned ten players in the defensive third of the field and the game ended in a frustrating scoreless tie. Later that evening the team learned that Bethpage had tied as well...the season came down to the last game. If Bethpage won, the Bullets were second but no matter what, the Bullets had to win to take first!

The season finale matched the Bullets against the outstanding Patchogue Medford team with scorching speed and the ability to strike at anytime, from anywhere. Before the game the players were anxious, but they had been there before, and knew if they played their first to the ball attacking possession game with a cover defense they would come out on top. When the contest started, the defense was tested, the midfielders were stretched and the strikers battled. At the 20-minute mark, Nicole Abbondandolo found the far post from the left side and at the 35-minute mark Katie Donoghue found the upper corner with a half volley to put the Bullets ahead 2-0 at the half. During halftime the players, coaches and trainers spoke with each other as the stands were filled to capacity with families, friends, fans and former players cheering the team. The Bullets knew that if they kept their cool they would be able to celebrate later if Bethpage was not able to handle the pressure and lost. The Bullets took the field with ice in their veins with the sun low in the sky and the late fall chill in the air. Patchogue came out with a renewed intensity and at the 64-minute mark their right striker found a seam and burned the Bullet's defense for only the third goal given up all season. With the score now 2-1 the visiting team's stands and players raised the action to a frenzied level in an attempt to knock off the Manhasset squad. The Bullets, having been in championship games before, were not to be denied as the team scored in the 72nd and 76th minutes with great teamwork by Ashley Devins and Katie Breslin rotating in the middle and Nicole Abbondandolo and Keegan Forte flying on the wings while Katie Donoghue sealed the game with two more goals for a 4-1 victory!

When the final whistle blew the sky was red and the players knew they had met their challenge but needed to know what happened in the Bethpage vs. Wantagh contest. During the game the score found its way to the Manhasset field...Bethpage had lost to Wantagh by a score of 1-2. When the Bullets heard the news the cheers, shouts, hugs, tears and strains of "We are the Champions" echoed across the field. The players, coaches, trainers, families and friends took great pride in knowing that the Bullets had reached their dream of being D-1 in '01.

They say that playing sports is about building character, learning teamwork and understanding the value of commitment. The Bullets are a great example of a group of young ladies, dedicated coaches, trainers, and families that support each other and believe little things make a difference. As Coach Donoghue says, "We have a great team made up of many individuals with different personalities who play for the love of the game and have more fun than any other group of players around." When asked what the Bullets will do next, Coach Donoghue replied, "We will relax, enjoy the moment, do what it takes to be the best we can be and enjoy the ride."

When the Bullets were enjoying victory cigars (yes, players too) at their well-deserved end of season party and the players learned they had been invited to play in the USA Cup next summer, they looked at each other with their "fear none" glint in their eyes and knew they would Rock 'N Roll! Good luck, girls!