Lane claims second straight city title

Updated: June 4, 2011 5:06PM

Jasmin Carrera scored twice, Wendy Ambrocio and Giselle Aguilar led a determined defensive effort and Liceth Robles was a midfield presence throughout as Lane became only the second girls soccer team to repeat as city champions with a 2-0 victory Thursday over Young in the Public League final at Lane.

After game the Indians’ players couldn’t resist showing the fans from Young the trophy for the fifth city championship in the program’s history – one more than the Dolphins – before running over and celebrating with their own fans.

“They talked so much and you can’t let that get to you so we wanted to let them know it didn’t get to us,” Robles said. “The score showed it all. Who’s the better team?”

The win was the 26th consecutive Public League victory for the Indians (16-3-1), who have outscored opponents 140-3 during that stretch.

Carrera gave the Indians a 1-0 lead 4:16 into the first half on a 17-yard blast from just inside the top of the box. It was the first time Young (12-7-4) was scored on in the Public League playoffs and came after Carrera had struck the post 45 seconds earlier.

“I’ve been thinking about this game since last night and all day at school.” Carrera said. “When I got that second goal it was like a wave of relief. We knew we had won it again.”

Carrera was also called upon as a stand-in goalie after starting keeper Ana Hernandez (two save) was assessed a yellow card for a foul in the box 8:56 into the second.

Fortunately for Lane, Carrera only had to watch as the ensuing penalty kick sailed over the bar with Hernandez nervously pacing on the sideline.

“I think that threw off their PK a little bit to see [Carrera] in there,” Young coach Mike Wasielewski said. “But she’s our backup goalie.”

Dolphins goalie Rachel Hobert (11 saves) saved a twice-taken penalty kick to keep the score at 1-0 with 23:01 left in the first. Hobert stopped the first PK and then saved a second penalty shot after one of Young’s players was judged to have encroached into the box too early on the first attempt.

Adaobi Ekwueme also kept Young, the only other repeat city champion in 1999 and 2000, with in touching distance with a stop on a sure goal after Hobert had come off her line and made yet another save.

“We came in knowing it was going to be a tough challenge, but we faced it. I’m proud of my team,” Ekwueme said. “We fought hard, we did the best we could.”

Carrera sealed the victory with her second goal with 14 seconds left in the game as Young pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

“It feels good because we reached our goal and achieved our full potential,” Robles said. “We came out to play and we got to work. We’re champions.”

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