Bishop O’Connell’s girls soccer team figured to be a preseason favorite to content for a WCAC championship. The Knights visit to Fannon Field did little to suggest they are not on course for the Halloween weekend title game with a 2-0 win over the Cardinals Thursday. The Cardinals, just back from a hard-fought 3-2 loss the night before in Fairfax to PVI, hung gamely with the Knights, hustling and making O’Connell earn the win.
The 9 to 3 shots on goal margin for the Arlington school suggested they did control much of the contest, as did 5 corner kicks during the course of the game. Ireton with fewer shots and no corners rarely challenged the netminder, but did have their moments. “We played flat, the second half Bishop Ireton was the aggressor, beat us to most balls,” said Virginia’s winnest high school girls’ soccer coach, Alberto Strache of Bishop O’Connell.
Morgan Reuther got O’Connell on the board at the 21st minute mark after senior Jackie Moriarty dribbled through a number of Cardinals then passed ahead to the Knight’s sophomore for the tally. In the 25th minute, the Knights’ sophomore Rianna Arellano pressed the ball toward the Ireton net closely guarded by senior Jackie Galdos. As they closed on the goal, Galdos poked the ball free but passed the surprised Joanna Faletti for a 2-0 advantage for the visitors.
“We made some adjustments at halftime and some mistakes in communications, but with some fresh legs next week, we’ll be better next Tuesday at O’Connell.” said Ireton’s Marianna Sullivan after the contest.
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