Girls soccer
McAuley 1
Bonny Eagle 1
Jessica Minton scored the game-tying goal with just under five minutes left in the second half to avoid a loss and tie McAuley, 1-1, Saturday at home.
“It was a cross from Stefanie Stockwell,” said Minton. “Then Messina Provencher shot it and it kind of had a weird spin on it, so I just tapped it in. But it was mostly Messina and Stefanie Stockwell.”
The first half was scoreless but both teams had chances. McAuley recorded three shots in the first 10 minutes of the game. Lyndie Libby made a diving stop on the third shot. She had ten saves for the Scots.
Bonny Eagle had the ball in the Lions’ end for most of the first half but were unable to get off more than four shots. Jessica Harris turned all four of them away. She recorded 20 saves.
“You’ve got to give credit to McAuley,” said Scots coach Kerry Townsend. “They played hard and we played hard. I think nobody really deserved to lose the game.”
The second half was more of a back and forth game with play switching ends rapidly. About 10 minutes into the half the Scots had a great scoring chance but the shot sailed over the net.
Just when it looked like this game might be a scoreless tie, Katelyn Call sent a crossing shot just out of Libby’s reach and into the net. With just under 10 minutes to play, Bonny Eagle would need to dig deep. Townsend’s coaching style would come in handy.
“We sub a lot more than other teams so we’re usually fresher later in the game than most teams.”
Being fresher than your opponent can be a big advantage in soccer.
With time slipping away, Minton stuck the ball into the net to tie things up. When Provencher shot, Harris dove to play the ball but couldn’t wrap it up. That was when Minton stuffed it in and gave her team new life.
“We got really excited and we were really pumped after that,” said Minton.
With the score tied after 80 minutes of soccer, overtime was needed to decide this one. Bonny Eagle managed the only shot in the first overtime. In the second overtime they got four shots but none went in the net.
“I thought it was a physical game both teams physically went at each other,” said Townsend. “I’m very proud of them.”
Though no one scored a goal in the two overtimes to win the game, the biggest goal belonged to Minton.
“I don’t think she’s scored a lot of goals this season,” says Libby. “But one of the things Jess is she’s a spark for us. She gets us excited and makes us laugh at practice. She’s one of those dynamic kids you always look to for support and encouragement.”
The Scots were able to bounce back despite a late goal by the Lions. Libby says her team always plays that way.
“That has happened with us often this season, we’ve fallen behind. I think one of our things as a team is we don’t give up. One of our mottos we always fight to the death.”
The tie brings the Scots record to 2-5-2.
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