by Brian Kapur, DCSportsFan
Junior forward Karina Azar and the Cardinals had some chances but couldn't solve Kirsten Glad and the St Johns defense is a 1-0 setback in the 2011 WCAC championships. Azar leads a talented group of returning letterwinners that have the Cardinals enthusiastic about the 2012 campaign.
Bishop Ireton looked the part of Cinderella as they ran through the WCAC playoffs and shocked Good Counsel, who was considered the top team in the country in an ESPN poll. But on Sunday at the Maryland Soccer Complex, the clock struck midnight as St. John’s shut out the Cardinals 1-0 to claim the girls soccer WCAC Championship.
“It means the world to all of us,” senior midfielder Shannon Collins said. “I know that quite a few of us are still in shock and we are just trying to enjoy the victory.”
The Cadets controlled the tempo and dominated the ball in the first half, but Ireton’s defense didn’t allow quality shots. But with less than nine minutes to go before halftime, St. John’s had a corner opportunity. The Cadets kicked the ball into the box looking for someone to put it into the goal. Collins stepped up and fired the ball into the net to put the Cadets up 1-0 at halftime.
“In the first half we played extremely well, moved the ball really well and created a lot chances and controlled the game,” Cadets head coach Devin Payton said.
In the second half, the Cardinals took control of the tempo and went on the attack. They had four great shot opportunities.
“We had better chances, but in soccer you have to put the ball in the back of the net, that’s what counts,” Cardinals head coach Gino Leon said. “If you look back at the game, look at how many chances we had. We had four or five chances, but we were a half step off or just late.”
St. John’s senior goalkeeper Kirsten Glad came up with huge saves down the stretch to stonewall the Cardinals and preserve the shutout and the Cadets win.
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