Crusaders score late to beat Huskies
STEUBENVILLE — A fast start and a good finish led to a victory.
The Catholic Central girls’ soccer team scored a goal less than two minutes into its match against Harrison Central to take the early lead, and the Crusaders scored their third goal with about two minutes left in the game en route to a 3-2 victory over the Huskies Monday evening at the Tony Recinella Soccer Field.
“The first two or three minutes we played well,” Catholic Central (6-4) head coach John Madden said. “We moved well. We passed well. The girls did what they were supposed to do. After that, we were really flat. We were not accurate with our passing. We were standing around and watching too much.
“I don’t know if it was because it was a Monday game for the girls. They looked tired. I kept asking a bunch of the girls if they were OK. They looked worn out. They looked tired. They looked zombies on the field. They looked that way most of the first half and in the second half up until the last 10 minutes of the game.
“Once Harrison had scored to tie it up, the pressure was on them, and they started working better.”
The Huskies rallied from a 2-0 deficit at halftime to score two goals in the second half — the second one coming with about four minutes to play — only to see the Crusaders score the game-winner a couple of minutes later.
“We were down, 2-0, and we came back to tie only to lose the game in the last two minutes,” Harrison Central (2-6-1) head coach Scott Ward said. “It was a well-played game. Our 1-2 was working as well as well as our triangle. We tried to do what we have been working on.
“Now, we begin our homestand. We have been on the road all season. The girls work hard. We are going to keep working hard.
“We have changed our formation to try and open things up. We want to be able to pass the ball into the holes of the defense.”
Allie Zapolnik netted tallied two goals — the first and the third — for the Blue and Gold, and also collected an assist in the victory. Rachel Ledyard delivered a goal and an assist and Rachel Bodo added an assist. Emily Stevens made four saves in goal.
Laken Ward and Gemma Downs each scored for the Huskies. Lexi Yoho assisted on the goal by Laken Ward, while the goal by Downs was unassisted. Ashley Mencer played a strong game in goal, making 18 saves.
“Harrison’s defense and their goalkeeper did a great job,” Madden said. “No. 22 (Spencer Blumenschein) played a great game, and so did their goalkeeper.
“We had 21 shots in the first half and only two goals. We had so many opportunities. Their defense stepped up, and their goalkeeper was in the right place at the right time.
“We were able to come back from our Monday afternoon blase. We started working better and going to the ball.”
Catholic Central outshot Harrison Central, 28-13, and the Crusaders took 23 shots on goal, while the Huskies took six. The victors also had two shots hit off the crossbar.
“Ashley Mencer has really stepped up,” Coach Ward said. “She has worked so hard in the offseason, in the weight room and at camps. She has really made strides since she was a freshman. She played a beautiful match. Three shots were just able to slide through.”
Zapolnik opened the scoring off of an assist by Ledyard to give the Crusaders an early 1-0 lead, and the score remained the same for more than 30 minutes when Ledyard scored off a Zapolnik assist.
Laken Ward scored to cut the Harrison Central deficit to 2-1 six minutes into the half. Downs tied it a 2 30 minutes later.
“I don’t really keep track of teams from one year to the next,” Madden said. “I recognize really-good players. It was a tough game. It was a tough game last year at out there. It was, 3-2, or 3-1.
“They work together. They step to the ball. They play good defense. When they attack they move as one unit.”
The Huskies had come all the way back but the Crusaders still had time, and they were able to take advantage of it when Zapolnik found the back of the net for the second time.
“Catholic Central is always well coached,” Coach Ward said. “They work hard. They pass the ball. The work the ball into the empty spaces. They did what they were supposed to do.”
Prior to the start of the game, the two teams gathered in a circle at midfield in took part in a moment of silence in memory of former Harrison Central assistant coach Christy Mencer, who was killed in a car accident back on No. 21.
“We had a momentum of silence to honor Christy Mencer who passed away in a car wreck,” Coach Ward said. “It means a lot. Their coach called me and asked if they do it. That shows great sportsmanship on Catholic Central’s part. They wanted to reach out and help us heal. It really means a lot.”
Christy Mencer also served as the Harrison Central Junior High girls’ basketball coach.
Catholic Central hostss Edison at 5 p.m. Wednesday on Senior Night.
Harrison Central welcomes Cambridge at 11 a.m. Saturday.
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