By Dylan Butler
Catia Santos had a dream.
On the eve of a first-round PSAL ‘B’ playoff game, the senior on the Thomas Edison girls’ soccer team saw herself score a goal and assist on another in a 2-1 win over Benjamin Banneker while catching some zzzs.
Santos was nearly prophetic as she scored a goal in the Inventors’ 2-0 victory at Flushing Meadows Corona Park last Thursday.
In its first year of varsity play, Thomas Edison’s dream season continues into the quarterfinals, where the Inventors will play Tilden, the top seed in the ‘P’ bracket, in a game scheduled for Tuesday.
“I’m happy. Last year we didn’t do anything,” Santos said of last season’s club campaign. “I definitely think we have enough to make it all the way, but we can’t get too confident.”
After taking its lumps as a club team last season, Thomas Edison lost the first two league games of the year by 2-1 scores to Jamaica and Van Buren and haven’t lost since.
“This was a phenomenal win,” Edison coach Frank DeNunzio said. “We just wanted to be competitive and we worked so hard in preseason with a lot of running and training. It’s just been a dream season.”
Against Banneker (11-5-1) and freshman sensation Dominique Rodriguez, a speedy striker who is clearly one of the top players in the ‘B’ division, DeNunzio called for a defensive style to combat the Warriors’ speed up front and then to counterattack when possible.
After a scoreless first half, Edison (13-2-5) jumped ahead in the 65th minute when Zujenis Pico found space through the midfield. Her shot deflected at the top of the box onto the left foot of Anika Charles, who slotted the ball past Banneker keeper Aminata Lucas from 10 yards out.
“It’s like a rush. This year is totally different, it’s like a dream,” said Pico, one of about 30 girls to lobby administration at Edison to field a soccer team two years ago. “I couldn’t believe we made the playoffs.”
Four minutes later Charles was taken down from behind by Latoya Nettles near the top of the box, resulting in a yellow card on the tackle and a direct free kick.
Santos originally thought about shooting the ball to Lucas’ left, but DeNunzio told the striker to lift the ball. She did just that, lofting it into the upper right corner of the net from 20 yards out to give the Inventors a two-goal advantage.
“I don’t want this dream to end,” Santos said. “We’re going to take things game by game.”
And dream by dream.
Newcomers 6, Grand Street Campus 1. Jenny Garcia had two goals and Rebecca Aupont added a goal and an assist for Newcomers (13-2), which was scheduled to face Environmental Studies in a quarterfinal game Tuesday.
Jamaica 3, Goldstein 2. Rose Paulemont and Kimone McLaughlin scored in the penalty kick shootout for Jamaica (12-3-1). Daniella Adams, who made 10 saves during regulation and two overtime periods, stopped four of Goldstein’s five penalty shots, and Jiji Sung tied the game at 1 with three minutes left in the first half for the Beavers, who were scheduled to face Lab-Museum in a quarterfinal game Tuesday.
Forest Hills 2, Columbus 0. Carolina Sierra scored both goals for Forest Hills (13-1-2), Grace Kim and Angela Arboleda each added an assist and Marissa Costa notched her eighth shutout of the year. The Rangers were scheduled to face Julia Richman in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
Julia Richman 5, Van Buren 0. Ana Alban had four goals and an assist for Julia Richman (13-2).
Environmental Studies 2, Arts and Business 0. Alicia Fischweicher and Candice Flemming scored first-half goals for Environmental Studies (10-3-2).
Cardozo 3, Sheepshead Bay 1. Carolyn Durniak had two goals and an assist and Vivian James added another goal for Cardozo (17-1), which advances to play Midwood in a quarterfinal game scheduled for Wednesday.
Midwood 2, Francis Lewis 0. Nicole Weathers and Jessica Pico scored for Midwood (16-1-2).
Bronx Science 4, Bryant 1. Alice Randall netted a hat trick and Stacey Ullman added a goal for Bronx Science (13-2-2).
Stuyvesant 3, Townsend Harris 1. Miriam Goler, Amalia della Paoler and Joanna Adamczak scored for Stuyvesant (11-2-3), while Kathryn Dubowski netted the lone goal for Townsend Harris (12-5-1).
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
