Steinert edges Notre Dame on 2nd half goal
HAMILTON >> For those who prefer a wide-open style and lots of goals, Tuesday’s Notre Dame-Steinert girls soccer game was not for you.
For those who appreciate well-organized and disciplined defensive soccer by two quality sides, Steinert’s 1-0 victory perfectly fit the bill.
In a game that surely seemed destined for overtime following limited scoring opportunities in the first 73 minutes, Steinert (2-0) suddenly broke through on a goal by Margarita Ivanova.
It started with the Spartans’ promising sophomore midfielder Alexandria Petrullo feeding Ivanova the ball. From there, Ivanova used a deft touch to set up her favored right foot and unleashed a long blast from outside the 18.
Notre Dame (2-1) has an excellent keeper in Nicole Rende who moves well, but in this case she appeared to be caught slightly off her line. As a result, Ivanova’s shot sailed over the back-peddling Rende and then dipped under the crossbar for the game’s lone goal.
“I’m not exactly sure how the ball got to me, but when it did I just went to my right and took a shot,” said Ianova. “Working on our finishing is a huge part of our practices.”
Prior to the goal, there just wasn’t much to chose between the two sides. Notre Dame did have the slight advantage in play in the first half and forced Steinert keeper Kat Calle to make a leaping one-handed save with 4:30 remaining before the break.
It was more of the same back-and forth through much of the second half before Steinert started getting a territorial edge as the clock wound down. This eventually led to Ivanova’s goal on a long shot, which was entirely appropriate because neither team allowed the other to do much from close in.
“Once we figured out what they were doing our girls marked very well,” said Steinert coach Mike Hastings. “(Center fullback) Morgan Hart does a great job for us. She covers everything.”
Hart also had plenty of help as Hastings was quick to credit Brielle Spadola, Crysten Wood, Sophia Laico and Nicole Pappas for their defensive work.
Obviously, Notre Dame’s backline was also very solid and allowed just five shots on goal. Unfortunately, for the Irish, It was their bad luck Ivanova’s shot was struck with plenty of force and perfectly placed.
“This is a good win for us because Notre Dame is a really good team,” said Hastings, whose team beat the Irish last year early in the season in overtime. “You know it’s always going to be a battle with them.”
Echoed Ivanova: “It’s very exciting. We worked very hard to prepare for this game because we know what kind of team Notre Dame has. Now we just have to keep the same mindset.”