Tuesday, September 25, 2012
By Ryan Buck
HOWLAND
Howland girls soccer coach Joe Megyesi will never be seen laying into his team like the bombastic Bob Knight or encouraging them with mind games like motivational contrarian Phil Jackson.
Megyesi’s motivational tactics for Monday night’s matchup with All-American Conference American Division rival Canfield were simple, but effective as the Tigers earned a hard-fought 3-1 win.
Avenging a 4-2 road loss to Canfield on Sept. 10 was fresh in their minds, as well as defense of their home turf.
“We needed this,” said Megyesi, after his team pulled into a tie for the conference lead with Canfield. “I told them it’s their field. The girls were just all pumped up. They realized we had to do it here or we’d fall short of winning the conference. The thing I’m happiest about is I have two seniors starting. There are so many young ones in here thinking it’s a rebuilding year. No, these girls are getting the heart and starting to get it together. This is the time I want to peak.”
His players responded with an effort worthy of their coach’s wishes.
“We just wanted it more,” junior Hope Sutton said. “We wanted it and we were going to do whatever it took to get it.”
Howland’s intensity in the opening minutes gave it control. Six minutes in, junior midfielder Seyla Perez scored on a perfect corner kick from Morgan Scott on Canfield’s back post.
“I guess I had to make space, get away from them [Canfield’s defenders],” Perez said. “It was a great ball, so all I had to to was get my head on it.”
Minutes later, the Tigers earned a free kick and Sutton stepped to the ball, just hoping to find an open teammate on the run. Sutton’s 35-yard drive missed a crowd of defenders, eluded goalie Victoria Villano, hit the inside of the left goalpost and trickled in.
“That doesn’t happen too often, but when it does it’s a good feeling,” Sutton said. “I was just trying to get it into the box, honestly.”
Canfield coach Phil Simone was disappointed with the slow start.
“They made us pay for it,” Simone said. “We got out-hustled and out-worked tonight. It’s Howland-Canfield. They’ve owned the conference since its inception and they’ve got that chip on their shoulder. We haven’t been able to knock that off. I’d estimate they won 80 percent of the 50-50 balls tonight.”
The Cardinals, ranked sixth in the Division II State Poll, found a rhythm midway through the half.
With 14:01 left in the first, junior forward Paige Bidinotto took two touches and slid a shot past Emily Price to cut it to 2-1.
The intensity continued into the final 40 minutes. Howland persisted in its long, forward passes for Perez and a speedy group of forwards. Canfield had two chances to finish long-distance crosses in front of the goal, but Price (four saves) and her defenders held.
Perez deflected home another corner kick with 22:45 to play and the Tigers had room to breathe.
“We knew we needed another goal because it was too close,” Perez said. “It took the pressure off.”
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