The largest section in girls Class A soccer also features a competitive playoff race, making every game that much more important.
Springdale picked up a key victory in that postseason push Wednesday as freshman Sydni Henley's goal in the 17th minute of the second half lifted the Dynamos to a 2-1 victory over Section 4 opponent Apollo-Ridge at Northmoreland Park.
Wednesday marked the first game of the second half of section play for Apollo-Ridge and Springdale. The Dynamos are in third place in the section with Apollo-Ridge in fifth. Four teams make the playoffs.
“The (playoff) picture is fairly accurate right now, but you never know what can happen,” Springdale coach Jerry Concannon said. “I think the strong teams are going to keep putting pressure on the middle-range teams, and the middle-range teams will hopefully eke out something. But everyone's vying for (Nos.) 1, 2, 3 or 4.”
The addition of second-year program Apollo-Ridge to the section this season added another layer to the playoff race. The Vikings had a near-miss for a signature win Tuesday, falling in double overtime to Riverview, and they suffered their second one-goal loss of the season to Springdale on Wednesday.
“We definitely have a lot of inexperienced girls that this is the first time they're playing soccer, and they're playing against a team that has 22 girls that are soccer players,” Apollo-Ridge coach Matt Ross said. “Our girls showed a lot. Two of our girls, this was the first game they've ever played in, and they're going out there and running with some of the best girls in the (Alle-Kiski) Valley, in my opinion.”
The first meeting this season between Apollo-Ridge and Springdale went to overtime, and Wednesday's game also was tight.
Freshman Jaden Domeratz opened the scoring for Springdale (8-2, 7-2) in the fourth minute of the first half, pushing a Milana Yaksich cross-field pass past Apollo-Ridge keeper Megan Bonelli, a Marshall recruit.
“Megan Bonelli is such a fine goalkeeper that we find some of the better ways to finish our chances is to get balls coming from the side,” Concannon said. “You're not going to score too many directly on her. She's too good.”
Ashtyn Baustert tied the score for Apollo-Ridge (4-5, 4-5) in the 13th minute of the first half on a free kick after being taken down just outside the box. Springdale made some adjustments in the second half, moving typical defender Abby Myford to offense to take advantage of her speed on the outside.
The move paid off as Myford set up the winning goal with a crossing pass that found Henley in front for a score.
Henley scored both of Springdale's goals in the first game against Apollo-Ridge.
“The freshmen are doing great,” Concannon said. “We have a couple that are scoring some goals in some key moments (Domeratz and Henley). Sydni is kind of the section beater in terms of this particular opponent, this particular season.”
Another Myford cross later in the half almost went for another goal, but Alyssa Tocco's shot struck the left post in the 23rd minute.
That gave Apollo-Ridge an opportunity to tie, but Springdale's possession kept the Vikings at bay.
Bonelli made 10 saves for Apollo-Ridge, and Stephanie Manning stopped seven shots for Springdale.
“I expected to be in this game,” Ross said. “I actually didn't think it would be this tight, so that makes me feel pretty good.
“We've got a pretty good hill to climb the next two games. We play (second-place) Shady Side Academy and (first-place) Greensburg Central Catholic. After that, it should be the home stretch.”
Doug Gulasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.
