Sizzling Sosa shoots New Utrecht to first Class B crown

Ivette Sosa wasn’t considered one of New Utrecht’s stars during the regular season. That title was reserved for Jennifer Paolino and Carmela Marchica. But there may not have been a more important and clutch performer in the postseason.

The sophomore forward scored the Utes last three goals of the year, including the winners in the semifinals and championship match. Her 77th minute tally gave No. 5 New Utrecht a 2-1 win over No. 3 Newcomers in the PSAL Class B girls soccer final at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University Sunday.

“The one thing I always told the girls, especially my forwards is you never know when [opponents] are going to make a mistake,” New Utrecht coach Kristina Weisbrich said. “You always have to be ready and you follow every ball”

Sosa was certainly paying attention.

The game appeared headed for overtime, but the Utes were able to take advantage of a Newcomers mistake in the box. Paolino missed a shot and the Newcomers’ clearing attempt went to the open Sosa 10 yards out in the left side of the box. She easily scored into the open net. She said she played even harder Sunday after a pep talk from her father Juan, a recreational league soccer coach, Saturday night.

“I needed to put it in to win the championship,” Sosa said. “I saw it coming and I just one touched it.”

The title is the first in the history of the program, which started in 2004. New Utrecht (14-2-0) fell 2-1 to Flushing in the finals two seasons ago, but lost six players who were on that team to graduation last year. Heather Maugeri, one of the Utes two seniors on this year’s squad, was one of the last players to walk off the field, the championship trophy tucked securely under her arm.

“Oh my god I love it,” Maugeri said. “This is what I wanted to do before I left this school.”

That result took an early hit. Newcomers star Amamaria Amaya fired a shot from 20 yards out. New Utrecht keeper Rosario Cuatlacuatl knelt down to make the save, but saw the ball deflect off her and inside the left post just three minutes into the game. It was a goal that Weisbrich admitted got her nervous at the start.

“It was the beginning,” Cuatacuatl said. “We still had some time to pull ourselves together.”

The sophomore was flawless in net after that. She made a diving save on Amaya shortly after and stopped her again from point-blank range in the second half. New Utrecht, which won the Brooklyn B-VII crown, began to dominate play. Sosa got New Utrecht even in the 21st minute, kicking a ball past Newcomers goalie Arkiatou Samake, who was off her line.

“My goalie has a great game,” Newcomers coach Kerryn Sarceno said. “If they would have just cleared that ball out, kicked it out of bounds, we would have been in overtime right now.”

Samake made nine save to keep the Lions in the game. Newcomers (13-3-0) reached the final for the first time in school history. The moved down to the B division this season after not being able to field a team a year ago because of low numbers after the girls soccer season was switched from the spring to the fall.

“To even make it here a year after not having a team I think that says enough in itself,” Sarceno said.

Weisbrich said she wasn’t even sure about making the playoffs when the season started. Her roster had a combined 13 freshmen and sophomores. Her squad has come a long way.

“I was like this is going to be a rebuilding year,” the coach said

Instead it was a championship one.