At first, members of the Garnet Valley soccer team were concerned as senior captain Jordan Ireland had to be helped off the field of Thursday’s Central League game against Haverford with an injured elbow.
The Jaguars, though, quickly turned their worry for an injured teammate into the determination they needed for a 3-2 victory over the Fords.
“The team rallied around that,’ GV coach Paul Costa said. “They really played tough after that.’
Fittingly, it was Ireland’s younger sister, Maddie, who put the Jaguars in front to stay. Maddie Ireland settled a pass from Rachel Glenn off a free kick from 35 yards out with nine minutes to goal and found the back of the net for the winner. Brittany Dragoni tallied the first two goals for Garnet Valley (2-3 overall, 2-1 Central).
Amelia Durfee and Olivia Butera scored for Haverford. Butera’s goal tied the game, 2-2.
In other Central League action:
Strath Haven 4, Marple Newtown 1: After a scoreless first half, Lizzie King tallied twice in second half to lift the Panthers over the visiting Tigers.
King broke the scoreless deadlock in the 47th minute. Morgan Crain made it 2-zip Strath Haven two minutes later. After Bree Farrell got Marple Newtown on the board, King scored again to put the game out of reach.
Maddy Tannert-Schmidt closed out the scored for Strath Haven, while Amanda Goodyear made 11 saves in goal for Marple Newtown.
Springfield 1, Penncrest 0: Taylor Cutcliff’s goal in the second half was enough for the Cougars (2-1-3, 1-1-1). Goalie Madison D’Ambrosio made 10 saves to post the shutout. Kayla Allen made eight saves for Penncrest.
Radnor 4, Ridley 1: Maura Holst struck twice to pace the Raiders. Sarah Lynch had the lone Green Raider goal.
In the Catholic League:
Cardinal O’Hara 1, Conwell-Egan 1: Goalie Carrie Zamonski stopped nine shots, including a penalty kick with 30 seconds left in regulation, to help the Lions to a double overtime draw with the Eagles. O’Hara’s Jess Digiacomo tied the game with four minutes in regulation off of a feed from Jenn West.
Little Flower 6, Bonner-Prendergast 0: Goalie Miranda Corrigan made 16 saves for the Pandas.
