Soccer
Greely gets even, York shuts out Traip
By Uwe Seeler
ON THE ATTACK. York striker Chelsey Tewell attacks upfield in last week's win over Traip Academy at York with Susan Barton in support.
Photo by Lev Yashin
YORK - It was almost another miracle finish for the York girls' soccer team last Friday, Sept. 29, when they hosted the Greely Rangers on the return leg from the season opener, a thrilling 2-1 overtime win for York.
With Greely having controlled play for the entire second half, York put together a furious attack in the closing minute. With Susan Barton chipping the ball from the top of the box with only seconds left, the Greely keeper stuck off her line in no-man's land, and the ball floating over her head and down, down, down and …clang. Off the crossbar it went; time ran out, game over, Greely 1-0.
In truth, the Rangers deserved this win. Although York came out strong and controlled play at the outset, Greely took over at the 20-minute mark and dominated play for the remainder of the game. At just over eight minutes left in the first half, Greely looked to have scored on the rebound of a hard shot but the goal was called back on a tight off-side call. A minute later, Greely just missed again with a hard strike which ran past a diving Brooke Simpson and the post. The half ended at 0-0, but without a shot on goal, York was clearly just hanging on.
The second half started with Greely flying and placing pressure all over the Wildcats. An exhausted York defense held things close, but at 11:40 Greely's Alison Robinson got the ball in space and with the angle advantage over a fast-closing Meredith Reid. Robinson closed into the box and drilled a hard shot low past the outstretched Simpson, and Greely finally got the goal they had been pushing for to go up 1-0. When the final flurry for York failed, the one goal would be enough.
York was frustrated on offense all night long by a Greely defense that keyed in on the Wildcat's top goal-scorer, Chelsey Tewell, who had burned the Rangers for both goals in the season opener. Marking Tewell all game with sophomore speedster Jessa Steinman, Greely effectively shut down the Wildcats offense, which did not register a legitimate shot on the Greely goal until the 6:30 mark of the second half.
On defense, freshman Emma Clark put in a huge night at the center back position, covering for regular starter Kate Rasche, who was away. Moving back to the center from her normal stopper/midfield position, Clark played like a veteran leader, and along with strong play from outside backs Michaela Schilling, Reid and keeper Simpson, almost held things for the draw.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at York, the Wildcats had an easier time of things, taking out Traip Academy 5-0. Traip never threatened in this game, and York was able to connect passes at will. With Clark in command from the center back position, the Wildcats moved the ball smartly and spread play well throughout the field.
Morgan Taylor started off the scoring on the assist from Tewell, followed by Haley Westman, who scored on a nice one-time shot from in close. Jessie Ehrenborg made it 3-0 off a clean trap and quick shot after the cross from Tewell to end the half.
Kiah Voyer-Colbath scored on a 25-yard bomb off the pass from Emily Boone to start off the second half, and Tewell finished the night at 5-0 on an 18-yard strike with the assist to Kim Rigano.
The Wildcats were scheduled to host Yarmouth in the next big return match last night, Tuesday, Oct. 3, at York. Heading into the game, York sat at 6-2-1. Scores were unavailable at press time.
