Kelly Larkin (9) scored 5 goals in Ireton's win over PVI Tuesday
Kendell Cunningham and Kelly Larkin each scored 5 goals, Charlotte Sofield contributed a game-high 6 assists as Bishop Ireton (3-2, 1-0) snapped a two-game losing streak and opened the WCAC regular season with a 21-9 win over Paul VI (4-3, 0-1) Tuesday.
It was a homecoming for PVI’s new head coach, Jen Olson, a 2006 Ireton alum and all conference defender for the Cardinals. Olson, hired in January by the Panthers, was a 4-year player for Hofstra while in college. She has the Panthers on the rise, coming in fresh off an overtime win over Episcopal on Saturday. There would be no dramatic ending to this matchup however, as the home team scored the game’s first three markers and led 6-1 after little more than 6 minutes of play.
Christine Macey got the Cards on the board in 1:22 into the game, Larkin scored her first goal 68 seconds later. After Bridget Knowles got the Panthers first tally, Larkin scored two more to improve Ireton to 5-1.
The Cardinals would outshoot PVI 21-10 in the first period, to take a 12-6, but not before Olson’s charges scored back-to-back goals a minute a part at the 18 minute mark of the half to draw the visiting Panthers to 8-5. Following an Ireton timeout, Sofield scored her second goal of the half, with Larkin and Cunningham also scoring to press the advantage back to 11-5.
Ireton held an 11-5 advantage in ground balls for the game, and Oliva Cole recorded 6 saves, many from close range for the redbirds. Hannah Ashby was busy in net for the Panthers with 12 saves while Bridget Knowles led the Fairfax school with 4 goals in the game and a pair of assists.
Kelly Mathews added 4 goals for Ireton, Macey had 3, and Natalie Irwin and Sofield had a pair each for Ireton.
Next up for the Cardinals is an Easter break trip to Long Island and a date with Sacred Heart on April 2. The Cardinals return after the break to face a pair of old foes, with Good Counsel and Holy Cross, last year’s conference finalists on the slate for Ireton as they return to league play.
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