Pioneers, L.moreland deadlocked after 2OTS
The posts on each side of the Lower Moreland goal played best friend to their keeper on Tuesday night. While freshman Victoria Mueller made save time DQG WLPH DJDLQ, LQ WKH fiQDO minutes of regulation the Lions’ last line of defense had a few metal bars to thanks.
Christopher Dock amped up the pressure after falling behind in the Bicentennial League contest and while Mueller denied a handful of shots which appeared destined for twine, the Pioneers hit the post on two inevitable game winners and the squads settled for 2-2 tie.
“Victoria is very good and one of those you say, ’please don’t get hurt,” Lions’ coach John Oberholtzer said. “She does play club ball and one of the reasons we are more successful than we were is because we do have more club players. This is the best team we have had and there are a lot RI yRuQJ NLGV. ,W LV WKH fiRVW time in seven years that we had a positive result against Christopher Dock.”
While it may have been the best performance against the Pioneers in a long time, the tie is not too gratifying knowing they let a 2-0 halftime lead slip away. Sophomore Celena Costa used her speed to EHDW D GHIHQGHR IRR WKH fiRVW goal and Samantha Morris’ RHVWDRW IRRP QHDROy PLGfiHOG found a way into the back of net.
“If we shot the way I wanted them to shoot it would have been 5-0 in the fiRVW KDOI,” 2EHRKROWzHR VDLG. “Then it would have been out reach. But Christopher Dock woke up in the second half.”
After a few tweaks to the OLQHuS, VSHCLfiCDOOy VHQLRRV Alyssa Leister taking over in goal and Shea Neal moving from center defensive back to forward ignited the Pioneers. Neal’s speed up top forced the Lions to concentrate on marking her with a man on the back and front of the returning Bicentennial League Most Valuable Player. It also opened up sophomore Bailey Kratz, who used the width of the pitch well and snuck a shot past Mueller in the 58th minute.
“Lower Moreland likes to put the ball in the air and we got into that and then we got frustrated,” Pioneers’ coach Ray Hess said. “In the second half we played the ball on the ground and we had plenty of chances.”
Cutting the Lions’ lead down to 2-1 only added fuel WR WKH fiRH IRR WKH 3LRQHHRV. After failing to control the WHPSR LQ WKH fiRVW KDOI, WKHy started playing to feet and dominating possession. Senior Katie McGoldrick scored directly on a corner kick in the 70th minute to send the game into overtime. She nearly scored on several other crisp crosses into the box.
“We had opportunities to win the game, but we did not get it done,” Hess said. “Our possession was great, but at times we made too many passes in front of the net. When we got down by two goals we had to put Shea up top. I almost wish she was PRRH VHOfiVK DQG WRRN LW WR the goal, but she is such a team player.”
The Pioneers are lucky to escape without a loss. Hess is concerned this blemish may ultimately derail their hopes of winning a league title. Quickly the Pioneers DRH fiQGLQJ RuW WKH OHDJuH has improved from top to bottom. The next time they play the Lions if they sleep wDON WKRRuJK WKH fiRVW 40 minutes they will not be so lucky.
“I think we took them a little too lightly,” Hess said. “It sure hurts our chances in the league. It could be the difference, especially if we lose to another team. Right now it looks like you cannot take anybody lightly in this league.