Lady Scots slam Lady Gators, 7-0

HOPWOOD - Soon, the pressure will be on the Southmoreland girls soccer team, as the Lady Scotties prepare to face several dangerous opponents over the next few games. The team is scheduled to take on Monessen and Jeannette in the coming days. But Monday at Menarchek Field in South Union Township, Southmoreland didn't seem to be under much stress as it rolled to a 7-0 Section 1-AA win over host Geibel.

'Too many starters were missing today, and it showed,' Geibel coach George Dzavan said, noting that Lindsay Mitchell and Gina Lesako were out of the game due to injuries. Katie Andyjohn was also out of the lineup, taking part in a junior varsity football game.

Although only starter Heather Graft was on the bench for the Lady Scotties, assistant coach Brian Olack said the team didn't play as well as it could have.

'They played a lot better in the last game,' he said.

George Dzavan said the Lady Gators will look at Monday's loss as a lesson.

'We have to learn from it,' he said. 'We tried. I knew going in it was going to be a difficult game, but we did better the first time around.'

In the teams' previous meeting, Geibel gave up just one goal in the first half before dropping a 5-1 decision.

Things were a little different for the Lady Gators in this latest match-up, courtesy of Southmoreland's Gina Lizza and Meggie Pajak. Pajak scored three goals in the first half, finishing with four to lead the Lady Scotties' offense. Lizza tallied a pair of first-half scores.

Neither Pajak nor Lizza struck first, though. That privilege went to Kara Britt, who gave Southmoreland a 1-0 lead in the first few minutes of play. Lizza tried to make it 2-0 and failed, as goalkeeper Michelle Casini made the save for the Lady Gators. Casini couldn't keep Lizza out a second time, though, as Lizza outpaced two Geibel defenders and moved in all alone for the score.

Lady Gators Katie Sunseri and Gemma Gailey made a run at the Lady Scotties' net, but they were tied up by Channah Zapotoczny and Jessica Neal, giving goalie Allison Strosko time to scoop up the ball. Then, Southmoreland took possession of the ball near the Geibel net, testing Casini several times before Pajak got one past her. Pajak assisted on a goal by Lizza soon after to put the Lady Scotties up 4-0.

Sunseri tried to prevent Pajak from heading back to the Geibel net, but Pajak battled past her to net another goal. Pajak's next shot went sailing over Casini's head and into the net for a 6-0 Southmoreland lead at the half.

The second half saw Emily Pennington take over goalkeeping duties for the Lady Gators. Pennington shut the door on the Lady Scotties for much of the second half, denying Valerie Henderson and Jenny Robosky on several attempts.

Erin Dzavan added some help on defense for Geibel, as did Jenna Gratchic. But thanks to a nice move by Sarah Davis, Southmoreland capped its day with one last goal.

Davis charged toward the net on Pennington's right, but as Pennington came out to make the save, Davis slipped the ball around her to the other side of the goal. Pajak was waiting there to drive it home.

'This time, we just didn't have it,' George Dzavan said, adding that with such a small squad, even a few missing players can make a big impact.

Geibel (0-10, 0-14) will host Carmichaels today, while Southmoreland (8-2, 10-3) will play host to Monessen on Wednesday.