The Wallkill girl’s soccer team played their Homecoming game on Thursday, under the lights. It was a cold and rainy night, but they made the most it thanks to three goals off the foot of Lainey Flanagan, all in the first half of the game.

Almost as impressive as three goals in the half was Wallkill’s defense, which did not allow a shot attempt on their goal in that same period.
“When our halfbacks really play both sides of the ball, attack and defense and hustle to get back every time it shuts down the opponent’s opportunity to get any space or any windows to attack,” said Wallkill coach Christopher Valencia. “Our defense was awesome.”

Flanagan’s goals came at the 24:01, 15:04 and 7:15 marks in the first half.

Bradyn Wood added a fourth goal of the half with 5:32 left, giving Wallkill a 4 - 0 lead at halftime. “I picked my head up and nobody was in front of me. I just ripped it,” she said of her deep shot from outside the 18 that went in the back of the net.

Starting goalkeeper Savannah Stoddart and backup Nora Serrao split the game due to the score.

Serrao picked up 2 saves for the Panthers late in the second, sealing the shutout against the Presidents.

Wood also added the fifth and final goal of the game, her second, at the 10:40 mark in the second half, giving Wallkill the 5 - 0 victory.
“It helps improve our mentality going into the next couple of games that are really important for us,” said Wood, one of the captains for Wallkill.

“If they can play together as a team and execute the things that I go over with them in practice, they’re a dangerous team,” said Valencia. “They gotta want it. They have to know how to play together as a team.”

Wallkill improved to 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the MHAL.