LAKE HUNTINGTON — Despite not being in the same division anymore, with Sullivan West girls soccer moving up to Class B this year, the cross-town rivalry that has grown between these two teams was readily apparent on Thursday night as Tri-Valley defeated Sullivan West 3-1.

The physical game was back and forth early, with both teams battling for possession throughout the first half until Sullivan West’s Viola Shami was able to break away and fire off a shot that would find the back of the net with 22:55 to play in the first half.

Minutes later, after exchanging attacks from both teams, Tri-Valley’s Kendall McGregor launched an equalizing shot that would knot the game at one apiece with 16:11 to play in the half.

In both of their meetings last season, neither team gave up a goal, with both games ending in a 0-0 stalemate, but that wasn’t the case under the lights on Thursday.

With just over two minutes until the halftime break, Tri-Valley scored their second goal after the Sullivan West goalie was forced up to try to grab the ball and it skated past her.

Sullivan West came out swinging in the second half, forcing the pressure throughout the early part of the second half, which eventually led to Sullivan West standout Viola Shami to briefly go down with an injury. Less than 30 seconds after play resumed, Tri-Valley’s Kendall McGregor was sidelined by an injury that would keep her out for the remainder of the game.

Tri-Valley mounted an attack with just under nine minutes to play that resulted in a goal for Kaytlyn Ingrassia, making the score 3-1, where it would stand when the final whistle blew.

“It was a well-fought game,” Sullivan West Coach Megan Brockner said. “Our girls showed their sportsmanship and their practice is starting to show in the game. I’m really proud of how the girls never hung their heads, but the score just wasn’t in our favor tonight.”

“We’re excited about the win,” Tri-Valley Coach Kayla Connolly said. “It took the girls a bit to get going, but they work very well together.”