Girls Soccer: Oswego edges rival Oswego East
Updated: May 8, 2012 10:03PM
If Oswego and Oswego East are looking for a sponsor for the girls soccer version of the crosstown rivalry, the natural would be a hospital, physical therapy center or health insurance company.
Tuesday’s latest version had the Panthers surviving a 2-1 contest that ended with five players helped off the field and the stoppage time nearly equaling the equivalent of three halftimes.
The win boosted Oswego’s season record to 8-10-2 and gives the Panthers a 5-2 ledger for Southwest Prairie Conference play, while Oswego East dipped to 7-8-1 overall and a final league record of 3-4.
“Just like last year’s thriller, it always seems like every meeting ends within a goal,” said Oswego East coach Lauren Anderson, whose team lost 1-0 at home in 2011 but pulled out a 1-0 road win in 2010. “We just didn’t finish enough of our opportunities today.”
Eighth-year Oswego coach Jamie Bartkowiak was missing from the sideline after undergoing an appendectomy, which set the medical tone. Seven minutes into the match, Panthers defender Reilly Brown suffered an injury that required the services of an ambulance.
While Oswego East failed to capitalize on a couple first-half breakaways, the Panthers got on the scoreboard 3:40 prior to intermission when Nikki Anderson’s pass set up a stellar eight-yard header by Bridgett Leverich.
“It’s like we put our minds together,” Anderson joked while putting her forehead to Leverich’s.
“Actually I just wanted to get it back in front of the box so someone else could finish it, I had no idea it was going in (the far side of) the net,” Leverich said. “But it was a great feeling.”
With the scoreboard clock only working for the last 20 minutes of each half, Oswego’s second goal came in the 50th minute off a corner kick by Lisa Dano. In the scramble in front of the net, Anderson got a touch on the ball before it also made contact with an Oswego East defender.
“Things happen quickly and it’s pretty much instinct to try to get the ball in the net,” Anderson said. “I know I got a touch on it and even if it hit someone else I believe I got the goal.”
Oswego East’s Anida Phetchanpheng got her team-best 32nd point of the year assisting on a Megan Moran goal in the 56th minute, but the Wolves were unable to get an equalizer.
© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment