Avon’s stout defense secures another victory THE SCORE

How about some love for the defense?

For the 10th time this season, the defensive unit of Avon’s girls soccer team kept its opponent from scoring, this time helping the Eagles notch a 1-0 decision over visiting Southwestern Conference foe Amherst on Sept. 28.

With the victory, Avon moves to 9-1-3 overall and 5-1-1 in SWC play. Amherst falls to 3-5-3 and 3-2-2.

The game was played in a steady, light rain, which may have had a minimal effect on ball control but not much else. Avon controlled the match throughout, putting up 12 shots on goal to just two for the Comets, who had only a few scoring opportunities.

“That’s the first time we’ve been shut out this season,” Amherst coach Gary Gonzalez said. “They did a really good job of defending us.”

Avon’s back line of seniors Sam Farmer and Madeleine Hapanowicz and junior Ashley Svec teamed with junior goalkeeper Maggie Beatty to form a stout defense, consistently turning away the Comets before they could mount any sort of attack.

“For the back three and AVON 1, AMHERST 0

the goalie, this is their second season together,” Avon coach Brianne Reinhard said.

“There’s definitely a sense of comfort and an understanding of how to work together.”

Beatty had to face only one serious scoring threat, and it came early in the second half. After a scoreless opening 40 minutes, Amherst came out the aggressor in the second half. Barely five minutes into the half, freshman Cameron Dumais placed a cornerkick right in front of the Avon goal, and teammate Sydney Clark sent a solid header toward the net. However, it went right to Beatty and the Comets never threatened again.

The lone goal came on what can best be described as an accidental set play. The Eagles were given a free kick from about 50 yards out. Kramer sent a high kick that soared into the Amherst box, causing goalkeeper Michelle Kissane to come out to field the ball.

However, just before Kissane got there, Avon’s leading scorer, sophomore Abby Delprincipe, headed the ball over the keeper and into the goal.

“That was definitely not a set play,” Reinhard said with a smile.

“I was yelling for them to go short. Good thing they didn’t listen to me. But we work a lot on getting balls out of the air.”

Gonzalez was unsure what happened on the play.

“I wish I knew,” he said. “It was a free kick in the middle of the field from 40 or 50 yards, which can be a dangerous situation. We have to defend it better.”

It was a frustrating result for Amherst. When asked if he could take anything positive from his team’s effort, Gonzalez struggled to find an answer.

“It’s getting a little rough to keep getting moral victories,” he said. “Avon is a good team and we were right there with them. We just got unlucky on the free kick. It came down to one play.”

With the victory, Avon remains in the hunt for the SWC championship. But, like everyone else, the Eagles are looking up at Westlake, which handed them their only loss of the season in a 2-0 decision.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know if anyone can stop Westlake,” Reinhard said. “But all our league games have been very competitive and anything can happen.”

Especially if you have a defense like Avon’s.