Boardman gets second chance, and Brittany Sirak delivers win

After her twin sister was denied on a penalty kick, Brittany Sirak made one.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Brittany Sirak didn't mind being the second option on the crucial play of Boardman High's girls soccer game against Austintown Fitch Wednesday.
And, after her twin sister Lauren Sirak was stymied on her chance to win the game, Brittany calmly gave Boardman a 2-1 victory.
With five minutes remaining and the score tied at 1, junior Brittany Sirak stole a pass at midfield and had a penetrating run through a seam in the Fitch defense.
Although Brittany Sirak was fouled in the box, her sister lined up for the potential winning penalty kick.
Lauren Sirak, second on the team with seven goals, had her try deflected by the Fitch goalie who was detected moving prior to the kick, a violation.
Another chance
Enter Brittany Sirak for another chance at the 1-on-1 situation. Her strong penalty kick, low to the left, gave the Spartans the lead.
"We just work around our problems," said Brittany Sirak, now with 18 goals. "I wanted her shot to go in as much as [Lauren] did."
"I knew it was on my shoulders and I wasn't going to let the team down," she added.
Boardman coach Fawzi Mujahed decided the order of shooters for that situation based on accuracy in practice.
"She got nervous because this was a big game for us," Mujahed said of Lauren Sirak's shot.
Sealed second place
The Spartans (9-2-3, 4-1-2) wrapped up second place in the Federal League behind Massillon Jackson, while Fitch (9-4-2, 4-2-1) took fourth.
"Fitch is a great team this season," said Mujahed. "They are very good, physical, even the skill, I can't deny it."
The Falcons controlled play much of the game, pressing the attack while the Spartans preferred a counter-attacking style.
"We play to send the ball to the twins," said Mujahed. "They understand each other. They pass it to each other and we get more opportunities."
With the game just six minutes old, Fitch took a 1-0 lead. Falcon senior Kelly Croysdale was fouled in the box and her penalty kick gave her a team-high 14 goals.
Croysdale was all over the field for the Falcons, seemingly on the attack and back on defense simultaneously.
"I think sometimes we expect her to do a little too much," Fitch coach Carlo Trafficante said.
The equalizer
Boardman got the equalizer with 13 minutes remaining in the first half on a 10-foot header by senior Lauren Callahan.
Spartan freshman Katie Stoll played a ball from 30 yards out on the right wing. Callahan redirected the entry pass while still in flight for her first goal of the year.
"It was perfect," Callahan said of the pass. "Stoll just took it from the side. It was perfectly placed right where it should be and as soon as my head hit the ball, I knew it was in."
Fitch goalie Kristi Brendlinger seemed surprised by Callahan's alert play on the pass.
"She may of thought it was a shot more than a pass to center but it worked out for us so it doesn't matter," said Callahan of the goal.
sullivan@vindy.com