By: Josh Abrams
East Falls, Philadelphia - With the final week of September in the books, girls soccer action in The Friends School League began to ramp up as eight teams took the pitch on Tuesday, Sept. 26th.
The most exciting and intense game of the slate took place on the fields of Germantown Friends School, where the Lady Tigers played host to the visiting Shipley Lady Gators and hung tough enough to tie the game at one goal apiece with two minutes left in regulation.
It was as evenly matched of a game as you could get. Both teams went back-and-forth in terms of gaining momentum and neither offense truly overruled the other’s defense for extended periods of time.
The scoreboard showed zeros on both sides for a majority of the first half until Shipley freshman Kayla Tidwell found the back of the net in the 34th minute.
With junior teammate Sophia Pascale attacking up the right side, Tidwell stayed center and received a pass from her. Tidwell deked her defender right, took a dribble towards the middle of the field and found another junior teammate, Olivia Coia. Her initial left-footed kick hit the hands of GFS goalkeeper Abby Mahler but she was given another opportunity to score, which Mahler again saved, this time with her right leg. The rebound bounced towards Tidwell, who stayed with the play and put a perfectly-placed right-footed kick top-shelf in the right corner of the net.
Said the lone goal scorer for the visitors: “It’s all just a thrill. When your head is in it (the game), it’s in it, and (you’re thinking) do whatever you can to get a goal, and you’re not going to stop until the ball is in the back of the net.”
Shipley Freshman Kayla Tidwell Puts Her Team Ahead Late in First Half (Video/Josh Abrams)
Shipley Freshman Kayla Tidwell talks about game intensity. (Video/Josh Abrams)
The Lady Gators played a stellar second half as they seemed to control possession of the ball for most of the frame. Not to say GFS didn’t have their chances, but Shipley goalkeeper Rylee Louden was instrumental in keeping her team in front and limiting GFS to one shot per rush.
Shipley HC Sebastien Le Toux talking to starters early 1H (Video/Josh Abrams)
GFS head coach Manolo Sanchez addresses his team heading into OT (Video/Josh Abrams)
“We played really well,” said Louden. “I think there’s moments we could improve but there was so much good stuff that came out of this game that we can take a look at.”
GFS junior Sarah Goldberg put her team on the board with just two minutes left in regulation and knotted things at 1-1. She described what happened that allowed her to be able to score the goal.
“There was a cross (pass) from the right side, and it was kind of confusing for the defense because it looked like Emmie (Day, sophomore) was going to go for it and get the ball. But I just hit it and it went in. (Louden) dove but the ball was right in the corner so it was good.”
GFS junior Sarah Goldberg puts her team on board to secure tie.(Video/Josh Abrams)
Shipley GK Rylee Louden talks about her defense in any given match. (Video/Josh Abrams)
“The goal at the end of the day is always to have a clean sheet,” Louden said. “Sometimes when another team hits a good shot you have to give it (credit) to them.”
GFS goal from Sarah Goldberg ties it late second half (Video courtesy of Charlie Myran/GFS Athletics)
Credit, and especially respect, are just one of many traits and characteristics that come to mind for GFS head coach Manolo Sánchez when analyzing this specific matchup.
“I thought this was always going to be a really difficult and good test for our team,” said the fifth year leader and 2010 graduate of the school. We have a lot of respect for Shipley (who were) in the (FSL) championship last year, so we wanted to make this our measuring stick.”
Shipley push to the net, stop by GFS GK Abby Mahler (Video/Josh Abrams)
GFS head coach Manolo Sánchez talks about momentum in Double OT thriller. (Video/Josh Abrams)
Sánchez’s high regard of Shipley and their head coach, former Philadelphia Union player Sebastien Le Toux, is as legitimate as ever. At the same time, he knows what his girls are capable of.
“We knew they were going to get their chances,” Sánchez said. “We started the game really well, and then because of Shipley’s good players and coaches, they were able to swing the momentum back and forth. But we knew that if we hung in there, kept playing and stuck to the game plan that we’d get chances to score. A goal in the first minute is as good as a goal in the last minute, so we were pleased with that.”
Shot from Shipley sophomore Katie Gilbert (#2)
OT chance for Shipley stopped by GFS GK Abby Mahler
The Lady Tigers are a very young team, but even with no seniors on the field, Sánchez is pleased with his team’s progress and, more importantly, seems to be enjoying the process.
On working with such a young roster: “It’s been a lot of fun. These kids are competitive. They’re a great group of kids. They have great personality and character, and they respond to challenges. Each one we’ve thrown in front of them, they respond to, and that’s how this year has gone… each game has gotten better, which is where you want to be. You want to be trending up as you get to the business end of the season. I’m super proud of them, and it’s been a joy to coach them thus far.”
Goldberg concurs with the notion that Sánchez is a tremendous leader as she continues to focus on her central goal.
“We want to keep winning… and Manolo does a really great job of keeping us on track,” said Goldberg. “The team is really good at holding each other accountable, and we’re very determined this year. We want to win.”