Girls Soccer: After scare, Marist puts away Bloom

Updated: May 15, 2012 9:00PM

After controlling the first 15 minutes of Tuesday night’s match with Bloom, Marist seemingly went into cruise control.

But when the Blazing Trojans scored on a counter attack and went to the half down just 2-1, it was a major wake-up call for the RedHawks.

“I told them before the game that the playoffs are the playoffs and anything can happen,” Marist coach Sean Maxwell. “But that happening wakes them up more than words can.”

The sixth-seeded RedHawks responded by dominating the second half and pulling away for a 5-1 win in a Class 3A Andrew Regional semifinal.

Ailish Rispin scored twice and Kristen Barrett had a goal and an assist to lead Marist (8-9-2), which won for the fifth straight time and will meet Andrew in Friday’s final.

Barrett gave Marist some breathing room in the opening minutes of the second half, with a little luck. Her cross turned into the perfect shot, tucking just inside the far post and under the crossbar.

“I was just going for a cross, but it went in,” Barrett said. “At halftime, we knew that we needed to pick it up. We just kept on driving and kept attacking.

“We’re playing a lot better as a team lately. We’re working harder in practice and actually doing what the coaches tell us.”

Lexi Olivieri made it 4-1 with 19:44 left before Jackie Schuler closed the scoring.

Despite allowing the three second-half scores, Bloom goalkeeper Katelin Wallek put on a show after the break, making nine saves – including three terrific diving stops – in the final 40 minutes and finishing with 14 in all.

Rispin scored twice in the first 11:30 minutes before Andreina Hernandez struck on a counter attack for No. 11 seed Bloom (11-7) to make it a 2-1 game with left in the half.

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