By HUNTER O. LYLE
PORT ALLEGANY, PA – Despite a hard-fought battle of ebbs and flows across the pitch, two goals allowed in rapid succession would put the Port United girl’s soccer team in a hole they were unable to climb out of, falling 3-1 to Brockway.
In the past week and a half, the Lady Gators’ offense had been on a hot streak, scoring nine goals in four games. However, although they were able to find the back of the net, untimely situations got the best of them as they posted a 1-1-2 record in that timeframe.
“Soccer can change in a matter of seconds. Goals are hard to come by sometimes and if we just make one little mistake one little time, it can change the whole nature of the game,” said Port United head coach Matt Lawton. “Against St. Marys (last Monday), we were up 2-0 and it just fell apart. Punxsutawney (on Thursday) we were up 2-1. It’s just an unlucky thing that happens and we can’t come back from it. Hopefully we learn from these and move forward.”
Against Brockway, the Lady Gators would have to battle both the elements and a initial attack. In the opening handful of minutes, as both teams got comfortable with each other as well as the waterlogged field and slipperiness of the ball, Port would see quick streaks from the Lady Rovers. Punching quick holes into the defense, Brockway quickly plotted paths into the backfield, but were unable to pull the trigger for accurate shots on goal.
Eventually absorbing the early blows and adapting, Port would find ways to counter. While their opponents came in with sharp, concise drives, the Lady Gators would methodically move up field, giving the ball to the midfield before finding their forwards with long outlets or crisp through balls.
At the tip of the spear was Kailey Bartlett. Using her speed to find open plots of pitch before tapping into her fluid ball handling, Bartlett led the charge as she single-handedly brought the ball up the final distance and towards the net. As the first half weathered on, it would be Bartlett taking the vast majority of the Lady Gators’ shots.
Kailey Bartlett (6) dribbles around a Lady Rover during Port’s loss to Brockway. Bartlett would control the tempo of the offense throughout the contest. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
“Soccer is her sport. She definitely loves it, she plays it all the time, she’s very knowledgeable and just hustles,” said Lawton of Bartlett, who scored two goals and tallied two assists in the past four games. “She’s not going to give up. She brings that hustle to the team and definitely that knowledge to the team.”
In the 22nd minute, the Rovers would break the stalemate. Close to Port’s crease, a high-arching loose ball caused a crowd underneath. In the fight for position, a Lady Rover was forced to the ground, earning a penalty kick. Lining up for the shot, Port’s goalkeeper, Hannah Taylor, ultimately went right while the shot went left, allowing Brockway to hop onto the scoreboard first.
Taking the goal personally, the Lady Gators struck back with aggressiveness. Their front lines took the ball and immediately got within range on their first possession. However, a pivotal deflection ended with the Lady Rovers and with just a few quick passes, they had a fastbreak advantage. As Port’s defense attempted to get into possession, Brockway’s Ana Hughes booted a shot which ricocheted off the goal post and into the net. Just 56 seconds after their initial score, the Lady Rovers had built up a 2-0 lead.
Led by Bartlett, the Lady Gators pursued the attack, but were unable to get past the last line of defense. As the minutes wore on, their aggressiveness began to taper and in the final few moments, they would end the half on their heels. Forced on defense, they maintained the deficit on the scoreboard as they walked off the pitch.
“I told the girls at half that we were not out of the game. I know sometimes 2-0 in soccer matches, people think it’s a lot,” said Lawton, “and it can be a lot but we were definitely in it. That was the message.”
That energy would be obvious to open the second half. Punching deep holes past midfield, the Lady Gators began setting up shop in Brockway territory. While shots were scarce, the pressure was mounting and after just four minutes and change, they earned an opportunity.
With the physicality rising in tandem with the aggression, a Lady Gator eventually hit the ground just inside the box, earning their own penalty kick. Bartlett took to the line, bracing herself for the shot before unleashing a snapshot to the right. However, Brockway’s keeper, Elysabeth Myers, guessed correctly, deflecting the shot back into play.
The key defensive stop from Myers proved to be a turning point. With one team revitalized and the other seemingly deflated, the tides began to change. After an initial Port charge, the battle then took place at midfield for several minutes before Brockway took control.
Finding constant drives and presence past midfield, the Lady Rovers built up pressure by beginning to pepper Port’s net. Only being deterred and sent back temporarily, it would only be a matter of time before one broke through. In the 55th minute, one did as a Lady Rover shot broke through the top right corner.
Up 3-0, Brockway would ride the game out in full control. Port would find one goal late in the half, with Alyssa Pelchy shooting past a diving Myers off an assist from her sister Kylee, but the Lady Gators were unable to bridge the gap. Bringing their middle line way past midfield, Brockway suffocated Port into submission, ultimately handing the Lady Gators their fifth loss of the season.
“There was lots of good coming out today. I was really happy with the team’s play today. The ball just wasn’t bouncing our way and hopefully we’re going to put ourselves in better positions,” said Lawton, whose team travels to Wellsville on Thursday. “We just need to get better.”
