William Floyd Girls Soccer Scores a Win for Tunnel to Towers

Last month, the William Floyd High School girls varsity soccer team dedicated its Sept. 15 game against Bay Shore to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, turning a home soccer match into an opportunity to honor first responders, veterans and a member of their own Colonials family.

Led by head coach Kristin Carroll, William Floyd hosted a fundraiser to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides mortgage-free homes to fallen and catastrophically injured first responders and veterans. The foundation was established in honor of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who lost his life while helping others following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Before the game, the Colonials wore special Tunnel to Towers/William Floyd event shirts during warmups and participated in an international walkout with their opponents from Bay Shore. William Floyd’s NJROTC cadets, under the direction of Senior Chief Andrew DiDonato, also conducted a Presentation of Colors before the national anthem.

The ceremony carried special meaning for junior Rachel Hall, who delivered a speech about the impact Tunnel to Towers has had on her family.

Rachel’s father, Neil, served with the FDNY and was a lifetime member of the Mastic Volunteer Fire Department before suffering an on-the-job injury in 2022. Following his injury, Tunnel to Towers stepped in to support the Hall family.

“Rachel did a fantastic job talking at our game; we are so proud of her for getting up in front of everyone and sharing her family’s story,” Carroll said. “Our team wanted to give back to the community this year and proudly selected the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This cause is deeply personal to us, as the Hall family is a Smart Home recipient and many other student-athletes have relatives who serve or have served as firefighters, law enforcement officers and veterans.”

The Colonials then gave their supporters another reason to celebrate, defeating Bay Shore, 2-1, for their first victory of the season.

Eighth-grader Bailey Meyer opened the scoring in the first half off an assist from sophomore Layla Vallone. After Bay Shore tied the game, freshman Ester Avila Rodriguez delivered the game-winning goal in the second half.

Junior goalkeeper Ava Tschinkel also came up big, making five saves to help secure the victory.

“Our team played great defense and worked really well together to secure the win,” Carroll said. “We could not be prouder of these student-athletes, not only for their performance on the field, but for their commitment to supporting others.”

The Colonials showed that night that some victories go far beyond the final score.