VILLANOVA, PA - It was a match driven by high tempo, both teams vying to gain control of the ground ball, and two gatekeepers doing their jobs very well as Academy of Notre Dame girls’ soccer team hosted Agnes Irwin School in Thursday’s Inter-ac league opener.
It took twenty-six minutes before a light hit the scoreboard. That goal came from Agnes Irwin’s Maria Pansini who found herself with the ball in the six-yard box from a pass from senior captain Alicia O’Neil.
Pansini was able to create an opening and fire home over the top of the stranded Notre Dame goalie Caroline O’Keefe.
That goal seemed to give the Irish the spark they needed.
A clever give-and-go by Notre Dame sophomore forwards Mandy McGurk and Juliet Marchesani enabled Marchesani to be one-one with the rushing AIS goalie captain Kendall Shein. A composed Marchesani slotted the ball home making it a 1-1 game.
It looked as though the Irish were gaining control of the game as Notre Dame’s center back pairings of senior captain Claire Nappi and sophomore Sophie Pinnie picked up loose balls.
NOTRE DAME vs. Agnes Irwin
ND sophomore defender Katie Brennan, joined by combination play from freshman forward Abby Butler, created an opening for ND junior Christine Stavish. Stavish sent a curling right footed shot over AIS’s Shein into the far right top corner of the net giving the Irish a 2-1 lead going into the half.
The second half started off with ND’s control of the field. Irish midfielders senior captain Brook Spino, junior Kelly Coyle and sophomore Emma Kichula picked up most of the second balls starting the attacks.
However, AIS responded back looking to counter by playing quick balls over the top to AIS forward Lydia Bartosh. With less than five- minutes left on the clock, AIS threw close to ND’s penalty area. The throw was delivered to Owls senior midfielder and captain Annie McConnon who tied the game.
Slightly more than 2 minutes before the buzzer, the Owls played a long ball but O’Keefe was not able to hold on to it. AIS forward Natalie Pansini took the shot to the open net giving the Owls a 3-2 lead.
With less than 2 minutes on the clock, ND’s Pinnie found herself in attacking position and fired a shot. AIS’s Shein palmed off to ND forward Mandy McGurk who leveled the score at 3-3.
Seconds later, Notre Dame had the chance to win the game with a shot made by Manchesani. That shot was denied with a great last man back challenge by Shein.
Notre Dame Academy goalie Caroline O'Keefe (photo courtesy Bob Loftus)
With the game in overtime, both teams tried to find an opening for the win but to no avail. A last attempted attack by McGurk was smothered at her feet by the AIS goalkeeper, ending the game in a tie.
Agnes Irwin goalie Kendal Shein (photo courtesy Bob Loftus)
Next Inter-Ac League challenge for the Irish is at home on 9/27 against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Agnes Irwin plays Baldwin also at home on 9/23.
Game Stats:
Academy of Notre Dame
12 shots on goal
Goals
Juliet Marchesani 1
Christine Stavish 1
Mandy McGurk 1
Goalie: Caroline O'Keefe 9 saves
Agnes Irwin
12 shots on goal
Goals
Natalie Pansini 1
Maria Pansini 1
Annie McConnon 1
Goalie: Kendal Shein 9 saves