For more than 78 minutes of varsity soccer, Bishop Ireton and Holy Cross were locked in an exciting struggle of non stop thrusts and parries and moments of near misses. Perhaps not surprisingly in a tight contest, the game was decided with only 1:17 to play when Georgetown-bound Colleen Dinn of Holy Cross beat a pair of Cardinal defenders and buried a shot high into the net of a 1-0 contest in Alexandria Friday. Ireton had contained the 2008 all conference selectee for the game up to that point, but when the Tartans needed a big play, their big-time player answered the call.
“We played with great passion and enthusiasm, moved the ball well, and created some great scoring opportunities.” commented Ireton seonc year coach, Marianna Sullivan. “It was an exciting game. Colleen is a great player and made a great play.” The Cardinals opened the both halves with speed and pressure on the ball. “The artificial turf is faster than we are used to” observed Holy Cross’ head coach, Nelson Abreu. “In both the first and second halves, Ireton pushed us early before we could adjust to the speed of the game.”
Ireton’s best chances came in the second half, when sophomore Katrina Guyau sprinted down the sideline and sent a crossing pass to Catherine Vasquez. The senior’s blast hit the crossbar with 17:54 to play and the Tartans were able to clear the rebound. With 10:35 remaining, Guyau again victimized the Holy Cross defense with her lightning speed when she broke into the clear just beyond midfield with only the goalie to beat. AHC’s Marie-Laure ****** played the situation aggressively to cut down the angle, but the Cardinal sophomore’s deft deke fooled ****** who tackled the racing Guyau earning an automatic red card and match disqualification. Senior Jackie Galdos took the direct kick from just out side the box, but the backup goalkeeper made the save and the rebound was knocked just wide. With 4:00 remaining the Alexandria school again worked the ball deep and in a wild exchange in front of the goal a shot snuck through but, for the Cardinals, meandered agonizingly wide by feet past the goalpost and out of bounds. Ireton continued to press the attack with Holy Cross one man short as a result of the goalie ejection. The Tartans were frantically turning away the Cardinal attack and clinging on to the scoreless tie until a long outlet pass to Dinn set the stage for the senior’s final heroics. With Dinn dribbling expertly through a pair of defenders, she broke into the clear to face Ireton’s Baumann. The Holy Cross senior sent near perfect blast to the short side high; Baumann leapt outstretched to tip the rocketing shot but could not turn it way, sending the black clan Tartans into an excited swarm. The Cardinals (0-2) turn now to Good Counsel (2-0) a 3-1 winner earlier over AHC, when the Falcons visit Fannon Field for a 4pm start. Holy Cross (1-1) head to Ellzabeth Seton, winners over Ireton 2-0 in the season opener in Bladensburg last Tuesday.
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