The WCAC is a tough league and every game is a grind, physically and mentally. Bishop McNamara, with a resurgent program that has tied the likes of Good Counsel and O’Connell earlier in the season, spotted Ireton a first half goal, roared back with two of their own in the second half, then survived a late Cardinal rally to escape Alexandria with a 2-2 draw Friday.
Elyena Rodriguez got Ireton on the board with some nifty footwork at the end of a beautiful play. Freshman Nicole Bond cleared a pass to the home sideline where Katrina Guillou pushed it quickly ahead to senior Jackie Galdos. Galdos drove the ball to Rodriguez who took the pass down the sideline, into the corner, then deftly dribbled out to the center, where she faked and then shot the ball in the net with 11:26 left in the first half.
A physical, back and forth struggle continued with few shots developing until sophomore Catherine Anderson jumped on a rebounded shot and drilled it past Ireton’s Joanna Falletti to tie the game in the 23rd minute play. Senior Candace Chambers gave McNamara their first lead with 10:16 left when she outraced Bond and sophomore Hannah Thomas to score.
A direct kick from the dangerous Galdos with 5:59 left went on net, but when it squirted loose for an instant from Mustang goal keeper Sara Cavanagh, Thomas banged home the tying tally. The wild scramble left Cavanagh injured with a wrist bruise, requiring Anderson to move into the net for the Forestville squad.
Ireton smelled an opportunity and for nearly 4 minutes the pace was relentless as the teams battled, the Cardinals to test the backup goalie, McNamara to push the ball in the Ireton end. Suddenly at just over 3 minutes left, the game momentarily slowed to a series of long passes and back and forth, as both squads seemed exhausted by the furious action. In a seconds, the pace resumed and Ireton pressed, without success, in netting a final score.
“Our heads were down for just a moment when they took the lead, commented junior midfielder, Emma Baldwin. “But we are a team of fighters and we played hard the rest of the way, looking for that next goal.”
The JV tilt was a one-sided affair with the Cardinals swamping McNamara 8-0. Katrina Azar scored 3 goals, Gabby Borowski a pair, and Sarah Bonano, Katherine Babiec, and Sarah Olson rounding out the scoring for Ireton.
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