Finals Bound! United Battles Back in Thrilling Semi-Final Victory

The heat was on Sunday morning, May 17th, as the Hauppauge United girls took the field against Massapequa in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals — and United delivered a thrilling performance from start to finish.

From the opening whistle, United played with intensity, hustle, and determination. The team consistently won tackles, got to the ball first, and controlled the pace of the game under the blazing sun.

Leading the charge offensively were Kika McDermott, Brooklynne Vertucci, Emma Pinelli, Julia Wilson, Juliana Bradbury, Kensie Buscher, and Edith Arevalo-Flores. The group played aggressively all game long, connecting on beautiful give-and-go passes and relentlessly pressuring the Massapequa defense.

On the defensive end, Daniella Pinzon, Tenley Jensen, and Ashley Leinz were simply outstanding. The trio shut down scoring opportunities, cut off angles, and battled fearlessly every minute of the game. Behind them, goalkeeper Riley Franco had a phenomenal performance in net, making countless saves while quickly distributing the ball to keep United’s momentum alive.

Massapequa struck first with an early goal, but United refused to back down. Soon after, Kika McDermott took matters into her own hands, weaving through multiple defenders before blasting a shot into the back of the net to even the score and ignite the United sideline.

With under two minutes remaining in regulation, the game reached a dramatic turning point. Ashley Leinz broke free on a breakaway run and was fouled by the opposing defense, earning United a free kick in the closing moments. With the pressure on, Emma Pinelli stepped up confidently and buried a beautiful shot into the top corner to give United the lead and secure the victory!

With the win, Hauppauge United advances to the Challenge Cup Finals upstate at the end of May!

Go United!! ⚽🏆