Panthers hold off Trojans
MONROE — Tuesday night’s girls soccer game between Masuk and Weston had the feel of an SWC playoff game — thanks in no small part to the rapidly declining temperatures under the lights of Benedict Field.
The fact the teams came into the matchup with a combined three losses played no small part in the early playoff vibe, either. In the end a pair of goals from Paige Jelliffe helped lift Masuk to a 3-2 victory and an inside track on the league’s top playoff seed later this
month.
Masuk (12-2-1) needed only 12 minutes to break the deadlock when junior standout Kacey Lawrence powered a shot past Weston keeper Bridget Angus, who’d earlier made a sprawling save from the ground to deny Madison Samperi from a similar distance.
The Trojans goalie had plenty of work in the first half, finishing with five saves. Minutes after Lawrence’s goal, Angus stopped a close-range deflected attempt by Giavanna DeLorenzo.
Masuk doubled its lead in the 35th minute on a goal by Jelliffe from outside the box.
Weston (10-2-2) found a way back into the game seconds before halftime on a corner kick taken by Sadie Rudolph that fresh-
man Aiden Kreitler tapped in at the back post, making it 2-1.
Masuk wrestled back control on Jelliffe’s second goal. Her header — set up by Lawrence — in the 43rd minute reestablished the Panthers’ two-goal cushion.
“We played in a 3-4-3 (formation) most of the game and it was exciting,” Weston coach Gustavo Reaes said. “I knew against a good team like Masuk that could expose us at the back, but in this league we try to win games.”
Weston kept pressing forward and were lifted by Rudolph consistently winning balls in the middle of the field. The hard work paid off for the Trojans in the 66th minute when senior midfielder Katie Orefice smacked a shot over the head of Panther’s keeper Maddie Kobza.
The Trojans continued to throw players forward but were unable to find an opening in the Panthers defense for an equalizer.
“I’ll give them credit, they came at us,” Masuk coach Jay Goleski said. PLAYER OF THE GAME
Paige Jelliffe, Masuk. The junior scored twice, including a header for the game-winner early in the second half.
SLIPPERY
The chilly temperatures, coupled with lots of moisture in the air, made the Benefict Field turf exceedingly slick. This posed a challenge for the keepers throughout the night, as it was difficult to get clean handle on the wet ball.
QUOTABLE
“Today was one of those days the other team got better chances than we did.” — Weston coach Gustavo Reases