Bushey’s pair lifts Rustin past Whippets
DOWNINGTOWN – According to the schedule, the West Chester Rustin-Downingtown West girls soccer match at DiSerafino Stadium on Thursday was just the end of the regular season, but to everybody there, it was so much more.
In a contest between the National and American Division champions that amounted to an unofficial Ches-Mont championship game, Alexa Bushey scored twice to give Rustin a 3-1 victory.
The Golden Knights completed an unbeaten Ches-Mont campaign at 12-0-1. Only a tie against Downingtown West is a blemish on the mark. They finshed the regular season at 14-2-2 overall.
“Very happy,’ said Rustin coach Peter Rohall. “I’m very proud of the kids. We went down 1-0 on the road and this team has proven that they don’t quit. They keep playing until there are zeroes on the clock. This (Downingtown West) is a very, very good team. Our kids deserve a lot of credit.’
The Whippets went ahead a little more than 10 minutes into the first half. After a foul, a free kick from Sierra Vurink from the left side found the head of an unmarked Devan Obendorfer, who thumped it past Rustin goalie Charlotte Elrod for the early lead.
“They have given up goals all year,’ said Downingtown West coach Wes Davis. “We know that one is never enough, especially this time of year.
The lasted a shade less than 10 minutes. Anushree Godbole was fouled giving Rustin a free kick. Brooke Morgan found Bushey, who headed it past Shae Yanez to knot the score at 1-1.
Rustin’s next shot on goal gave them the lead. Cassie Cheeseman worked down the left sideline and sent a perfect cross into the minute of the box where Godbole one-timed it into the net for a 2-1 advantage.
“Cassie beat a girl down the left side and sent a cross in and I happened to get my foot on it,’ said Godbole. “It feels awesome to win and we’ll get ready for districts.’
Both teams started the second half with excellent chances to score. First, West’s Tessa Veurink hit a well-struck free kick from about 25 yards that eluded goalie Julie Griesemer and stung the upper right corner of the crossbar.
Rustin responded, as Yanez touched a shot off the underside of the crossbar and dropped straight down. Cheesman latched onto the rebound and one-on-one with Yanez. The West goalie, however, made the save to keep it to a one-goal deficit.
The Golden Knights eventually received their two-goal cushion, Morgan served another free kick into the box that Bushey reached before an onrushing Yanez. Bushey back headed the ball into the net for her 11th goal of the season.
“I just knew it had to go into the box and Alexa is always on it when I hit it in there,’ said Morgan.
“I just saw it coming in the air,’ added Bushey. “I jumped up and flicked it back. I don’t want to say I got lucky, but I’m glad it went in.’
For West (10-2-1, 11-4-1), despite holding a 10-5 shots-on-goal advantage, they were held at bay by Rustin’s defense and never really threatened in the last 20 minutes.
“We knew they would be dangerous on restarts and they proved it,’ said Davis. “We made some mistakes and have to take each one and learn from it going forward. Most of was frustration from our point, not connecting or players not joining the attack.’
