Kelly Mathews found the upper left corner of the net with only 18 seconds to play, breaking a 6-6 tie and giving the home team a possibly season defining win on Fannon Field Friday.
The Cardinals, playing without three regular players due to injury, looked to be in trouble with the defending WCAC champions, winners of 5 straight over Ireton, visiting Fannon Field tied for the lead in conference play at 4-0.
“This type of difficulty is something we try to approach as an opportunity for another player.” said Ireton’s Rick Sofield. “We talked about that at practice during the week.” Â Sofield praised his goalkeeper, junior Oliva Cole, who he suggested played perhaps her best game of the season with 9 saves. Â He also singled out Hayley Snell, a sophomore pressed into action Friday for her forced turnover and ground ball as well as a key switch on defense, one of the many little things coaches pick up in the course of game. Â In tight games, little things matter, pointed out the third year Cardinal mentor.
And, tight was an apt description. Sophomore Charlotte Sofield opened the game’s scoring with 3:18 gone to make it 1-0 Ireton. Holy Cross answered 61 seconds later when Courtney Linter scored the first of two goals she would score for the Tartans on the windy, storm-threatening afternoon. Â Ireton would then take the biggest lead of the day when Sofield and Mathews scored at at 5:17 and 13:17 to make it a 3-1 Ireton advantage.
Cristina McCarthy scored twice for the Tartans with 10:35 left in the first half, then again with 9:51 left. Â Linter tallied for the third straight Tartan score to give them their first lead at 4-3. Â Mathews countered for Ireton with 2:41 left in the opening half and the teams adjourned to the intermission tied at 4-4.
McCarthy broke the stalemate 3:12 into the second period and again put the purple and black clad visitors in front, 5-4. Â The Cardinals Natalie Irwin made a spectacular shot, unassisted, to tie the game and pump new life into the home team. Â Sofield gave Ireton the lead with 11:28 remaining in the game before McCarthy again tied the contest, setting up the dramatic finish.
Ireton played a deliberate, patient style on offense and the Tartans seemed content to defend the arc whenever the redbirds advanced toward the goal. Following a Cardinal turnover, it was the Tartans turn to burn clock setting up their final attack. Â Enter the strong play of Oliva Cole, making the biggest save of the game and sending the ball down field to Sofield.
Sofield sped down field, drawing a crowd and opening the field for classmate Kelly Mathews to make the final goal with only :18 seconds remaining. Â Ireton’s Cole had to make a heady hustle play to save an errant pass with time running down and the ball heading out of bounds on the Ireton end line to keep the clock running and secure the win, a moment before the Tartans shot the ball into the empty net.
The win improves Ireton to 9-4, 3-1 in WCAC play, half game behind Holy Cross (10-5, 4-1) for second behind Good Counsel. Â The Tartans face the Falcons Wednesday while Ireton has Ryken, Seton, McNamara, and O’Connell remaining in conference action.
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After retaining the Cindy Cole Cup and Bishop’s Cup last weekend, the Bishop Ireton rowers entered the less friendly waters of the Occoquan reservoir to take on unfamiliar Northern Virginia HS teams. Rowing in the Al Urquia regatta on Saturday, they did something for the first time; both varsity 8’s made it to the finals.  
