By HUNTER O. LYLE
WARREN, PA – Facing off against their regional rivals, the Bradford girls soccer team managed to showcase their lasting dominance with a 6-2 win over Warren.
After winning their sixth consecutive District 9 title a year ago, the Lady Owls graduated some significant pieces, namely, their star forward Kelsea Austin who ended her four-year career on the pitch with triple digit goals. However, the Lady Owls have still found success with their top-to-bottom talent.
“It’s been a slow adjustment. We knew it would be a slow process but, halfway through the season now, things are starting to click,” said Bradford head coach Jim Warnick. “We know this is still the regular season and we have a few more games to work out some stuff.”
In the opening minutes, both teams took turns stabbing into enemy territory before being denied and rejected. While both the Lady Dragons and Lady Owls carved paths in close, the final few dozen feet proved to be more gridlocked than fruitful. However, in the sixth minute, Bradford punched a hole.
Cruising up through the crowded middle, Bella Prince found Rylie Corbitt bolting down the right sideline. A perfectly placed pass found Corbitt’s right foot which fired a shot past Warren’s goalkeeper. Leading on the scoreboard early, the Lady Owls were emboldened, launching a barrage of shots and peppering the net. Two minutes after the initial score, Prince ricocheted a shot off the crossbar and into the possession of Liv Niermann, who found the back of the net to put Bradford up 2-0.
Warren, desperate to stop the bleeding, aggressively pursued the ball and pressured the Lady Owls’ advances into turnovers. However, while their defense kept the Lady Owls at bay, the Lady Dragon’s offense struggled to connect their passes downfield. After breaking through mid-field, poorly timed or misled passes routinely missed their marks and stunted drives.
Bradford, on the other hand, was precise, concise and dangerous. After stripping Warren ball handlers the Lady Owls weaved through traffic to find their quick-footed forwards racing past defenders. Using this unmatched speed, Bradford was able to get clean, open looks at the net.
“We look for (ways to utilize our speed.) We’re used to a fast pace and that’s what we want,” said Warnick. “Speed for us up top is key for us.”
Before the break, Bradford would add two more goals to their side of the scoreboard, both of which came from Prince. With just over 11 minutes left in the first half, Prince penetrated the passing lane and came away with a steal before dashing around multiple Lady Dragon and bending a shot to the right of the diving goalkeeper. Prince then closed out the half with a breakaway goal with four minutes remaining to put the Lady Owls up 4-0.
“(Prince) was our coaches captain last year and this year and it’s because she leads by example,” said Warnick on Prince. “She really does push the girls as much as we do on getting the fundamentals down and what to do. She really takes that leadership role seriously.”
While the second half continued to be dominated by Bradford, it was done so in a different manner. Instead of their quick strikes and flashy scoring runs, the Lady Owls set up shop in Warren’s territory with long possessions that put extensive pressure on the back line. While the Lady Dragons seldomly got past midfield, Bradford had plenty of opportunities to put another in. After ten minutes of play, they did just that with a right side goal from Alyssa Mangold.
A five goal comeback is a daunting task that borders the line of impossibility, however, the Lady Dragons refused to relent. Finally able to create drives for themselves with a reinvigorated defensive presence and determination on the break, Warren was able to find Meea Irwin on a fastbreak. Out-sprinting the Lady Owls and taking it upon herself to score, Irwin notched the first Lady Dragons goal of the night at the 18th minute. Six minutes later, her sister Leyna Irwin punched in a score off a successful corner kick. All of a sudden, it seemed as if the Lady Dragons had some life. Still, however, they were up against the clock.
Despite the shift in momentum, it took less than two minutes for the Lady Owls to compose themselves, retaliate and take back control. Near the 28 minute mark, Kierstin Taylor lined up for a free kick roughly 30 yards out, stepped back and rifled a shot in the top left corner. It would serve as the absolute nail in the Lady Dragon’s coffin and as the time wound down, they watched Bradford walk off their home field victoriously.
Prince would lead the day for the Lady Owls with two goals and one assist. Corbitt, Taylor and Mangold each tallied one goal, with Mangold also recording two assists. In goal, Alexis Kicior had seven saves during Bradford’s ninth win of the season.
“We just have to stay healthy. It’s really huge,” said Warnick. “Our starting keeper is out, I have two more sick, another injured so we’re playing a little mix-and-match in the back. So (staying healthy) is the key.”
