Lancers salvage tie with Green Wave

Kacie McPeek scored a first-half goal, but it was canceled out by an equalizer just before halftime as Gilmour settled for a 1-1 nonconference stalemate with visiting Holy Name on Aug. 27.

In stifling humidity, it wasn’t the sharpest overall performance from the Lancers (1-0-1), but enough to garner a positive result against the formidable Green Wave (1-1-1) as September looms.

“These conditions are tough,” Gilmour coach Joe Ciuni said. “It was so hot and humid out on this turf — it actually makes it 5-10 degrees hotter. It was tough for both teams to run. But Holy Name, their midfield is very good, those midfield three with (Madison) Alberty leading the charge and (Clare Bourquin) as well — she’s an excellent player.

“Yeah, they were kind of controlling a little bit the first half. I thought we did much better in the second getting numbers back, covering for each other, though.”

On a charging back-post run amid Gilmour’s best combination work by far of the opening 40, McPeek slotted a rebound to make it a 1-0 match.

It didn’t last. With 34 seconds left before half, Alberty capped a pacey run wide right and crossed for Sarah Stanton, who took care of the finish from the left side of the box.

“I saw them working up the side, and I had a feeling it was either going to be a cross through the center of the 18, or it was going to be deflected off the keeper,” McPeek said of her goal. “I was just making the run on the back post, hoping to get some kind of touch on it.”

The Lancers were reliant on their defensivethird play, with the back four turning in a very solid shift to generate a result.

“(The attacking) is definitely a work in progress,” McPeek said. “We’re still trying to work through the combos in the midfield. Holy Name also has a very strong center mid as well. And our main focus today was shutting them down. I think we did well with that, but sometimes, it was difficult for us to turn the other way and get that going.”

Coming soon

For much more from this match, including a look at McPeek’s return to the side coming off an ACL tear as a junior, check back in the coming days on News-Herald.com and in our print edition.