When the 2001 Spring Long Island Junior Soccer league season began in early March, the 16-year-old Manhasset Bullets girls' soccer team kicked off in Division One for the first time. The team earned this placement after winning five division championships and were matched up in this elite division against the best clubs throughout Long Island. From the New Hyde Park season opener to the end of season contests against Stonybrook, Northport, and Babylon, opposing teams lined up with squads consisting of state, select, and Olympic development players who thought they would burn our Bullets.

As the Bullet teammates fought their way through the division with their rock 'n roll rhythm and "fear none" attitude, the rival players and coaches never thought the Bullets would survive since most new teams to Division One get no "respect" and usually are at the bottom of the standings at the end of the season due to the shoulder to shoulder physical play, pace of the game and tactical experience required to compete at this level of excellence.

Against the odds, our bold, blazing, beautiful Bullets battled the best 16-year-old soccer teams of Long Island and finished the Division One season with a third place ranking out of ten teams. The girls achieved this success with solid team play and individual excellence that rocked opponents' defenses and stymied attacking players.

Stonewalling the aggressive play of attacking teams in front of keeper Kendra Bernard was the Bullet sweeping defense that finished the season as the second best defense in the league. The Bullets' tenacious step-up style of play with cover support was led by sweeper Lexi Maruca and stopper Sabrina Fitzig while opposing teams' flying wings were repelled by stellar outside defenders Amy Torpe and Venice Bruno. This all-star defensive unit turned away attacking forwards for 80 minutes each game by rotating all-state speedster Brittany Garel and rookie Noelle Ventresca throughout.

The outcome of Division One games depends on midfield possession which the Bullets handled smoothly, smartly, and strongly by inside midfielders Ashley Devins and Lauren Taylor creating diamonds, and outside midfielders Genelle Taney, Farah Visslailli, Cassie Pond, and Cindy Laplaige marking tightly and winning 50/50 balls. These players time and again established counterattacks by transitioning as a team, playing a strong side game and sending either 30-yard rockets to the far post or delivering smart, smooth through balls with pace for oncoming Bullets strikers.

The Bullets' attacking game pierced opposing defenses with speed, style, and a give'n go rhythm that attacked from all corners of the 18-yard box. Leading the team in goals and assists was center striker Katie Donoghue who time and again found a seam to drive through, beat a defender and score or found an open teammate to find the back of the net. Outside strikers burning the touchlines were Nicole Abbondandolo, Jessica Kowalewski, and Keegan Forte.

Before the season ended the Bullets traveled to Virginia to compete in the Virginian Cup over Memorial Day weekend. Despite the driving rain and shortened schedule, the team ended up undefeated and unscored upon, only to lose in a tiebreaker against the best Division One teams from the East Coast. In mid June when the league season ended the Bullet teammates looked at each other and knew they had survived one of the ultimate tests of a maturing team...being able to step up to a new level of competition and play against the best by giving 110 percent, believing in each other and themselves and being victorious!

While other teams were putting away their gear the Bullets knew they had qualified for the USA Cup and the right to play against the best national competition in the country in Minnesota during July. When the players gathered after the season with family, friends, trainers, and their coach, they talked about how they would do against national competition. The coach responded, "You'll be winners regardless of the outcome of the games. Each of you players has earned the right to compete and know that victory comes to those who want it the most and the longest. We'll go, play hard and win or lose, we'll have fun." Congratulations on a great season and good luck in the Nationals, girls!