GIRLS SOCCER Eagles falter to Bay by 1-0

Hubbard became Bay's 16th shutout victim this season.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LYNDHURST -- Remind Hubbard High goalkeeper Lynle Cornell that she made 15 saves, and she has an immediate response.
"I didn't save one, though," she said.
It took Bay 71 minutes, but it finally put a ball past Cornell for a 1-0 victory Wednesday in a Division II regional girls soccer semifinal at Korb Field.
"Lynle had her head in the game," said Hubbard senior Jami Duvall. "If she was not back there, this team would have killed us."
The state's second-ranked team, Bay (16-2-2) controlled the game and continually put pressure on Hubbard's defense. Bay out-shot the Eagles 16-2 but had nothing to show for it until 9 minutes, 10 seconds remained.
That's when junior midfielder Callie Broomfield set up on the left side of the goal and, from 20 yards out, turned and shot. The ball sailed into the upper right corner of the goal, out of Cornell's reach.
"I had a feeling she was going to go that way," said Cornell, a junior. "I should have made one more step out. It was a beautiful kick, and I give her props for that."
Return to regional
Hubbard (16-4) was making its third straight trip to the regional, but the Eagles have been eliminated each time in the semifinals.
"I'm getting tired of losing this first game," Hubbard coach Dennis Smith said. "There's a big jump in talent level and obviously a big jump in intensity."
Duvall, who may continue her soccer career at the University of Toledo or Westminster College, led Hubbard this season with 36 goals. Still, her touches Wednesday were limited by Bay's defense, which recorded its 16th shutout of the season.
"Whenever we got the ball up front, there were two or three players on me," Duvall said. "You couldn't do anything."
Picking up the slack
With Duvall and her offensive teammates slowed, Hubbard had to rely on its defense to keep the season alive. As the game continued scoreless, it seemed the advantage was in the Eagles' favor, with a potential shoot-out looming.
But Bay, which won a state title in 1999, broke through for the decisive goal that sent it to the regional final.
"They were beating us to the 50-50 balls," said Duvall, referring to balls on their down flight. "We didn't get to play our game. We were subbing in other players to keep up with them.
"What can you do when the other team is a little bit better than you?"
richesson@vindy.com