United We Play, United We Win: Hauppauge United Dominate the Weekend

The Hauppauge United Girls U10 team had a weekend to remember, delivering two thrilling performances that showcased their skill, teamwork, and heart!

The action began with a hard-fought match against a tough Baymen squad. Hauppauge’s offensive line — Tenley Jensen, Emma Pinelli, Alexa Perlstadt, Emersyn Drake, Edith Arevalo-Flores, Kensie Buscher, and Aleyna Horasanli — came out strong, moving the ball with confidence and creating countless opportunities. Kensie Buscher set the tone early, threading a perfect pass to Tenley, who calmly finished for the game's first goal.

Kika McDermott’s blazing speed and dazzling ball control led to another breakthrough, as she weaved through Baymen’s defense to notch Hauppauge’s second goal. Shortly after, Emma Pinelli delivered a textbook corner kick that found Tenley Jensen, who slammed it home to extend the United lead. Alexa Perlstadt impressed with her sharp ball control and smart play to space, while Edith Arevalo-Flores kept the attack flowing with crisp passes. Aleyna Horasanli’s powerful kicks and readiness to pounce on loose balls kept the pressure on Baymen’s defense.

On the defensive end, Daniela Pinzon’s field awareness and pinpoint passing up the sidelines set up several key plays. Kaitlyn Asseng anchored the back line with her vocal leadership and relentless hustle, ensuring that the team stayed organized. Ashley Leinz brought her trademark speed and toughness, cutting off angles and disrupting Baymen’s attack. Riley Franco was a fortress in goal, fearlessly turning away shot after shot with bravery and precision.

Thanks to a complete team effort, Hauppauge emerged with a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Sunday, April 27th the girls competed in the Quarterfinals of the Long Island Cup. Riding high off their win, Hauppauge United entered the second round of the LI Cup against the Sachem Slammers with energy and determination — and it showed. From the opening whistle, United dominated, winning 50-50 balls, connecting passes, and keeping up relentless pressure on their defense.

The scoring opened when Alexa Perlstadt connected with Tenley Jensen, who once again showed her scoring touch by dribbling through defenders with finesse and finding the back of the net. Later, Team Captain Ashley Leinz delivered a pinpoint assist to Tenley, who slotted home her second goal of the game.

Defensively, Ashley Leinz, Kika McDermott, Kaitlyn Asseng, and Daniela Pinzon formed an impenetrable wall. Their timely clearances and smart positioning frustrated the Slammers all game long. On offense, Emma Pinelli, Alexa Perlstadt, Tenley Jensen, Kensie Buscher, and Emersyn Drake kept the tempo high. Alexa Perlstadt’s brilliant footwork opened up the field, setting up multiple passes to Emma, who battled hard and kept the momentum alive. Kensie Buscher hustled non-stop, winning critical 50-50 challenges, while Emersyn Drake provided crucial support with smart positioning and crisp passes.

In goal, Aleyna Horasanli stepped up in a big way, making several incredible saves and showing poise under pressure. Her confident play between the posts helped seal a hard-earned 2-1 victory and punch United’s ticket to the next round of the LI Cup.

It was a weekend full of heart, hustle, and incredible teamwork for Hauppauge United. With two big wins under their belt, the girls are fired up and ready for whatever comes next. Keep it up, United!