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The Newtown girls’ soccer team has had its struggles this season. The
Pioneers (2-4-1 PSAL Queens A-V) have just five returning players and 20
of the 35 players on the team have never played soccer before. Needless to
say, it has been a tough transition to the ‘A’ league.
But Newtown got a pretty good sign Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers won the 16th annual Queens Kiwanis Cup, which included Forest Hills, Townsend Harris, John Adams and Richmond Hill at Forest Hills HS. Newtown has won eight tournament titles, more than any other team in the event’s history. “The whole team is new,” said senior Kathy Cano, who won the all-around player award. “It took us awhile to click.” That seems to be happening now. Newtown lost to Bryant, 5-2, in its season opener, but beat the Owls, 1-0, on Thursday. Coach John Ramirez calls his team’s record “deceiving,” because of its relative lack of experience and some disciplinary issues he has dealt with. On April 23, Arts & Business beat Newtown, 5-0, but seven starters left their uniform at home. “The girls who didn’t bring their uniforms didn’t play,” Ramirez said. “There are certain things you have to do more than win. I had to teach them a lesson.” Also hurting the Pioneers was the absence of sophomore Laura Ramirez (no relation). She is one of the team’s best players, but has only played in that first loss to Bryant for personal reasons. She and her mother moved to Albany for 2 ˝ weeks, because they had nowhere in Queens to stay, but they are back living in Fresh Meadows now. “I’m taking soccer really seriously now,” Laura Ramirez said. It showed Saturday. She had two penalty-kick goals, including the game-winner, against John Adams and one penalty kick against Forest Hills. Ramirez also had the day’s biggest highlight: a set-piece goal from 25 yards out against Richmond Hill. “She’s a good player,” Cano said. “She helps the team.” Laura Ramirez is the kind of player Newtown needs this season. She’s been playing soccer for a long time and she plays all year. After the Kiwanis Cup, she was off to Flushing Meadows Park, where she plays with two different teams: Queens United and the Latin Stars. “She’s a soccer addict,” John Ramirez said. “She’s plays soccer every single day and that’s the key.” The next week is crucial for the Pioneers. They play Long Island City and Newcomers, two winnable games. Newtown will need to win at least three games in its last five to be eligible for the postseason. “I think,” the coach said, “we could be fighting for a playoff spot.”
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