The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PANTHERS POUNCE, STOP LOSING SKID
Vogel scores twice for victorious Elyria Catholic
The Elyria Catholic girls soccer team was looking to end a fourmatch skid and had a perfect opportunity to do so at home on senior day.
They did just that as the Panthers (8-5-1), fueled by Emily Vogel’s two goals, defeated the Padua Bruins (1-12-1), 4-1, on Sept. 28 at Elyria Catholic High School.
Elyria Catholic struck first in the 13th minute on a goal from Vogel as she put it past the keeper from 25 yards out.
“It’s senior day, so we really wanted to win for our seniors,” Vogel said. “We scored one early and then we gave up a goal. It was nice to see everyone with their determination to come back and put three more goals in the back of the net and win, 4-1.”
Padua answered in the 22nd minute to even the score at 1-1. Alex Stocker got past the Panthers’ defense, including Elyria Catholic goalie Cam Resor, after she came out of goal to attempt to block Stocker’s shot.
After some near goals from both teams, the Panthers took the lead.
Zoe Shildwachter poked the ball over the keeper and into the net to give Elyria Catholic a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.
“We definitely needed to have that energy and wits about us to go up there and put some goals in,” Elyria Catholic coach Dana McNeely said.
“We started out a little sluggish. But at halftime we really pulled together. They knew it was a big night for their seniors and they wanted to have the seniors leave with a win. I think they got that confidence back and that’s what they needed.”
In the second half, both teams locked in on defense while Elyria Catholic kept their offense rolling.
It appeared that Elyria Catholic had extended its lead to 3-1 in the 57th minute, however, the goal was negated by an offsides.
The Panthers nearly scored four minutes later when they launched a shot from 30 yards out that bounced off the left post.
Persistence paid off for Elyria Catholic in the 70th and 71st minutes when Vogel netted her second goal of the day and Alexa Oberg put one past the keeper to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
Vogel talked about how it felt to score two goals and help her team end their four-game slide.
“It felt good because we’ve been playing a lot of tough teams and we were on a losing streak and I hadn’t scored,” Vogel said. “So it felt good to put the first one in the back of the net. Being on a losing streak is tough and it brings the morale down. Getting this win helps put everyone in a good mood.”
Padua struggled to get shots on goal in the second half as the Panthers’ defense stood tall. Their best chance came in the 67th minute when a shot went just wide of the net.
“We just weren’t able to finish,” Padua coach Abbey Dotson said.
“We have to make sure we are always finishing and pressuring together. When we had to move Alex Stocker to the back, it took a little bit off of our defense. We are looking to continue our positive spirits ... every game we grow as a team together.”
Up next, Elyria Catholic hosts Bay on Oct. 2, while Padua travels to Aurora on Sept. 30.