Sarah Nolan showed the poise and patience she has been striving for.
“In the beginning of the season she was rushing her shot,” Christ the King girls’ soccer Coach John Fayad said of his freshman forward. “With time she caught on.”
Nolan failed to finish two breakaways during a scoreless first half. Undaunted, she calmly went on to record a hat trick after the break to give the Royals a 3-0 win over rival Mary Louis in CHSAA Intersectional girls’ soccer at Flushing Meadow Corona Park Oct. 17. It was Nolan’s second straight three-goal effort and the victory gives CK its second straight Brooklyn/Queens regular season title.
“Usually I rush my shots,” said Nolan, who has 17 goals this season. “I was just calm today and finished.”
The final score — and third off a pass from Medina Mulic — was the epitome of what Fayad was looking for. He tells the super speedy Nolan to take two steps back before making a run — so she doesn’t go offsides — and count to two and half before shooting.
Mulic stood along the top of the box on the left side waiting for Nolan, who controlled a pass to the opposite side of the field. She paused for a moment before beating the defender and ripping a shot to the far post with a minute to play in the game to make it 3-0. “The third one is a little bit nicer because she took her time,” Fayad said. “She took her time and the [shot] angle was off the hook.”
Mulic and Nolan showed a chemistry and dynamic ability that grew from their years playing club ball together with BW Gotschee. Early in the first half Mulic, who almost didn’t play because of a sprained ankle, dribbled through two defenders up the middle of the field and served a cross into the box. TMLA keeper Claire Loredan got a piece of it before Nolan kicked home the rebound in the 42nd minute to make it 1-0. In the 51st minute Nolan outran a defender to a through ball and scored on a breakaway.
“Since we played with each other when we were little, we are more comfortable with each other now,” said Mulic, who has 21 goals and 15 assists.
The duo has been one of the biggest reasons for Christ the King’s unbeaten season. CK (13-0-0) knew she was going to have a strong defense with goalie Kristen Droglser and top defenders Cathy Lume and Destiny Marino back. The emergence of Mulic and Nolan has helped them replace the goal scoring of Fabiana Rebecca and Christina Viaggio. This group might even be better than the one that won the school’s first diocesan title last season.
“Whatever I have I’m using,” Fayad said. “I’m proud of them. I like the soccer I am playing this year a little bit better.”
