PHILADELPHIA--In a rematch of last season’s Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals, Lansdale Catholic was able to repeat history beating Little Flower by an identical 2-1 score.
“It’s always tough when our first game is against a top four team in the PCL, so it felt good to get an early one,” said Lansdale Catholic head coach Bree Benedict.
The 2018 PCL reigning champs have been hard at work preparing for this season.
“We’ve been working since the preseason to get our first win of the season, so we came out today really fired up to get that. It’s been a long non-conference schedule for us, so to get in the catholic league, get our feet wet and get moving was good.”
Coming into this game, both teams were well aware of what to expect. The Sentinels were looking for revenge against the reigning champs who ended their season prematurely. The Crusaders were hoping to secure their first win of the year against the only team to beat them in the regular season a year ago. It was clearly going to be a an aggressive contest.
“We knew this wasn’t going to be an easy game with how we ended against them last year,” said Lansdale Catholic’s Kellie Gillen. “we knew they were out to get us, so we had to play strong.”
Little Flower vs. Lansdale Catholic (photo gallery by James Williamson)
Tensions were riding high to start the game and communication issues arose for both teams as neither offense was able to create any real momentum in the first half. Had it not been for a Lansdale corner kick that just managed to slip past the defense on a header from Gillen, the game would have gone into the half scoreless.
Both teams came out of the half looking energized and determined. The physicality increased on both sides of the net.
Little Flower was much more on the offensive side of the ball in the second half. They kept the pressure on Lansdale’s defense for the remainder of the game. Despite getting some quality looks around the net, Lansdale goalkeeper, Brynne U’Selis, kept Little Flower scoreless for most of the day and her team in the game.
“Brynne [U’Selis] was absolutely fantastic today. She’s been fantastic since August 7th, when we started,” said Benedict. “She comes out big and just sort of takes away those angles. That’s stuff we’ve been working on in practice and she’s just doing a great job of that.”
Little Flower vs. Lansdale Catholic (photos by James Williamson)
Eventually, Little Flower’s pressure would lead to a mistake. Mid way through the second half, Lansdale’s Sandra Hernandez was able to get the ball behind Little Flower and find a streaking Gillen, who out ran the defense and snuck one into the right corner of the net.
With less than five minutes to go, Little Flower would respond with a goal from Brenna McCarry.
However, Lansdale’s defense would prove to be on point in the game’s waning minutes as the Crusaders sealed their 2-1 victory.
“I just think we need more practice. We need to focus better,” said McCarry. "We need to take what we do in practice into the games and display it.”
“We need to be a better team,” said Little Flower’s Maura Kilkenny.
The Crusaders will now look to turn their first win into a streak as they go on the road to face Cardinal O’Hara this Thursday.
The Sentinels will look to regroup as they travel to John W. Hallahan on Monday, Sept. 16th.