Evans’ goal lifts Mooney to district title

October 26, 2018 at 12:09a.m.

Cardinals rally against Warriors

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

Bre Evans had one chance to score for Cardinal Mooney and she buried it.

With just under 10 minutes to play, Evans tucked Carolyn Kay’s corner kick into the back of the West Branch net to lift the No. 6 seed to a Division II district title. The Cardinals upended the top-seeded, undefeated Warriors 2-1 despite managing just three shots from the field Thursday night.

“[West Branch was] really physical and it was really good competition,” Evans said. “They did a really good job.”

Evans played a role in both of the Cardinals’ goals. Thirteen minutes before she scored the game-winner, Evans drew a penalty when she went down in the box.

“I believe I’m not supposed to comment on the referees to the media. However, I second that sentiment,” Indians coach Cheryl Ficco said in response to a suggestion that the penalty was soft. “We were the better team, but unfortunately, the better team doesn’t always win. We had more quality shots on goal.”

Sophomore defender MaKenzie Avery put the penalty shot in the bottom right of the goal to energize Mooney (13-3-4). The final 23 minutes consisted mostly of Mooney trying in vain to cross balls into the box against a stingy West Branch backline, a stark contrast to the rest of the game. Jillian Pidgeon scored from Lexi Biery’s corner kick with 12 minutes until halftime, which was the reward for consistent pressure from Biery, Gillian Koneval and Olivia McLean. Biery had at least four quality chances, three on a breakaway down the left wing and one point-blank shot in the box. Mooney’s Skylar Huda made 10 saves in the win.

West Branch (16-1-2) only allowed more than one goal once all season when it gave up three to Howland in a 3-3 tie and entered Thursday’s game on a six-game shutout streak. The district final marked the first time the Warriors had to play from behind this season.

“I honestly thought we did OK. The momentum shifted with the PK and that was hard. I thought we were really controlling the play until they got the PK,” Ficco said. “When they got the PK, I thought they were able to pick it up a little bit.”

West Branch’s ability to get the ball to its forwards on the run from Mooney’s defense declined after the Cardinals’ first goal. Instead of through passes and playable long balls, the Indians booted the ball well over their forwards’ heads.

Mooney won its first district title under second-year head coach Thomas Beck and first since the 2016 season.

The Cardinals couldn’t get a win in their first seven games before embarking on a 13-game winning streak. Beck thought his team deserved more respect heading into the postseason.

“I think these girls were voted a little lower than they should have been. I told them throughout the tournament to use that as motivation. Use it as fuel. I think that’s exactly what they did and they got the result they wanted.

Mooney will play Mentor Lake Catholic at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a regional semifinal at Twinsburg High School.