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Poland breaks through
By Doug Chapin
HOWLAND
It’s been a long time coming, but the Poland High girls soccer team finally defeated Howland and, in the process, captured the All-American Conference Red Division title for 2010.
Senior co-captains Samantha Susich and Tatum Marucci teamed up for the goal with 4:51 remaining in the game for a 1-0 Poland victory. Marucci sent a corner kick to the back post about 10 yards out and Susich headed the ball into the goal.
“The last time we beat them [Howland] was eight years ago,” Poland coach John Cavalier said. “We’ve been battling for years with them and tonight just happened to be our night.
“It means wonders to the program. We’ve been close but we’ve never gotten there. Usually when we play Howland the last game of the year it doesn’t mean as much. They have it wrapped up by then, or we’re in third and Canfield’s in second. This is the first time for Poland to be right there.”
The Bulldogs (10-3-2) finished 4-1-1 in the Red Division. Howland (11-3-1), was 3-2-1 in the division.
Poland and Howland tied 3-3 in their first meeting this season and it is possible they could play each other for a third time. Howland is seeded second and Poland third in the Division I district tournament. With two victories each they could play in a district semifinal.
“We have our work cut out for us, but if we both survive we could be back here playing again in a couple of weeks,” Cavalier said.
Junior goal keeper Abbie Frank had 10 saves for Poland and survived an onslaught of pressure from the Tigers.
“I thought we came out right from the start, we dominated a lot of the early play,” Howland coach Pat Hovance said. “We were just at the mercy of the frames and just didn’t get it in there.
“You hate to see that type of game come at you, but sometimes they do. Our girls played hard, they did a lot of good things. Congratulations to Poland, they deserved the championship, but it’s not a good feeling right now.”
It was ironic that Poland, which excels at open play, scored on a set play which usually is Howland’s forte.
“At halftime I thought we were getting beat badly on the outside. They kept on bringing the ball down and crossing on us,” Cavalier said. “They have some very tall girls and we’re kind of a small team. We said we can’t let them have the outside of the field.
“They are deadly with their corner kicks. The first game we played we gave them 12 corner kicks and I think tonight we gave them nine more. You can’t give a team 21 corner kicks in two games, you’re asking for trouble.”
Howland actually scored on a corner kick from Erika Nites with about 13 minutes left in the first half. Olivia Nicholas headed the corner kick into the net but was called for a foul for going over the top of a Poland defender.
That corner kick was set up after Frank punched away a free kick by Nites from about 25 yards out.
A few minutes later, Nicholas hit the post off an excellent through ball from Gina Wall, and the rebound shot was stopped by a Poland defender with Frank out of position.
Midway through the second half Seyla Perez carried the ball down the right side into the penalty area and unleashed a shot from about 12 yards away. Frank got enough of the ball with her fingers to send it just past the far post.
Poland also had a near miss when Erin Gabriel’s free kick from 40 yards out slammed off the crossbar with about 11 minutes remaining in the first half.
“If you have that much possession and that many shots, you need to put more on the frame,” Hovance said. “We had 10 corners at least and another half-dozen direct kicks within a good distance to put in the net, but it just didn’t go in today. Their keeper did a nice job, she had some nice saves.”