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Poland avenges ouster by Mooney
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Poland’s Victoria Harger (15) and Rachael Robertson (22) celebrate Harger’s first goal in Wednesday’s Division II sectional semifinal soccer match against Cardinal Mooney in Poland. The Bulldogs shut out the Cardinals, 3-0, to advance to the final.
By Tom Williams
POLAND
Nursing a one-goal lead early in the second half, Poland goalkeeper Jessica Rutana didn’t hesitate when she saw Cardinal Mooney’s Lexy Herman coming at her on a breakaway.
The Poland senior ventured way out of her net and slid, knocking the ball behind her. Mooney’s Lindsey Parkins swooped in, but before the Mooney senior could get a clean shot at the open net, Poland defender Rachael Robertson stripped the ball.
“I knocked it from [Herman’s] feet and I just tried to get up and get back as quick as I could in case they got a shot off,” Rutana said. “I was really grateful that Rachael was back there and I thanked her.”
The Bulldogs (12-5) added two goals in the final 18 minutes for Wednesday’s 3-0 Division II sectional victory that avenges last year’s ouster by Mooney (8-9). It was Rutana’s eighth shutout in 17 games.
“Our defense has kept us in a lot of games this year,” Poland head coach John Cavalier said. “We graduated 10 starters last year, so where we are at now I would never have expected. We were very inexperienced. “Rachael has been very dependable back there. And Jess is just like a cat. She makes things happen, she has quick hands and makes good decisions.”
Rutana made five saves. Mooney goalkeeper Samantha Ellis, a sophomore, was a lot busier, recording 15 saves.
“This is huge because nobody expected much from us,” Rutana said.
Everyone knows Poland’s archrival is Canfield.
“Mooney is a close second,” Robertson said. “This feels really good, especially after getting knocked out by them last year.”
About 17 minutes into the game, Poland went ahead 1-0 when sophomore Victoria Harger’s kick from the 20-yard line went into the top corner of the net.
With 17:26 remaining, Poland senior Marissa Trevis drove into the left corner, deked Mooney defender Carly Shutrump then fired a laser-precise shot that landed just inside the far goalpost.
“Probably 3 yards,” Trevis estimated she was away from the backline when she shot. “Most times from that angle, the goalie is not expecting you to take it, so I just took a chance and hit it as hard as I could.
“I was hoping it would hit off someone,” said Trevis, adding that she didn’t see the ball enter the net. “I went down and I kind of missed it.”