The girls varsity soccer team forced a 2-2 draw in their opening match of the season on Monday, Sept. 11 against the Field School
The game began slowly with both teams posting a strong defense throughout the first 15 minutes. Finally, in minute 16, freshman Cat Salz broke through the defense and fired a ball past Fields’ goalie to take a 1-0 lead.
“It was really nerve-racking going into the game,” Salz said. “It felt really good to score today.”
The score stayed the same through the first half as the Lions were propelled by senior goalie Ellie Levine’s stellar defense. Levine saved numerous hard shots from Field’s attackers to keep the lead going into the second half.
“[Levine] played out of her socks today on the field,” girls varsity soccer coach Paul Simmonneti said. “She stopped just about everything and kept us in the game.”
As the second half opened, the Lion’s defense started to fall apart. The Field players took advantage and stormed back, scoring two goals off a cross in the 60 minute and off a rocket of a shot from the top left of the goalie’s box in the 65th minute.
Despite losing the lead, the Lion’s continued to persevere. They attacked multiple times to no avail until the 71 minute, when they drew a foul inside the opposing goalie’s box. The penalty inside the box awarded them a penalty kick, which junior Gigi Gordon drilled into the back of Field’s net to make the score 2-2.
The last 10 minutes of the match went back and forth, but neither side scored to put them ahead. The Lions’ defense, which Simonetti said they had worked on all of last week in preparation for the matchup against Field, held despite some close calls ending the match in a draw.
“The team played really amazing for our first game,” senior Zoe Epstein said. “Everyone came together and I’m looking forward to building on that chemistry together.”
Despite the draw, Simonetti loved the effort his team put in and is looking forward to the rest of the season.
“We always seem to pull a tough game on the schedule for the first game,” Simonnetti said. “But to have a lead, give up the lead, and come back to tie it up with really hard play; I am thrilled.”
