Donovan’s hat trick lifts Conestoga past Downingtown East in 2 OTs
UWCHLAN >> Caitlin Donovan did more than her fair share to get her team into overtime.
Once there, the Conestoga star did something even better to get her team a critical nonleague victory.
Donovan scored two goals in regulation, and capped her day with a perfect strike from outside the box into the upper left corner to give Conestoga a 3-2, double-overtime win over Downingtown East Saturday morning in a nonleague contest that could have serious implications on the District 1 bracket later in the season.
“We were all pumped up for overtime and we knew once we scored that the game would be over,” Donovan said. “So that was mine and the team’s motivation.”
Conestoga (7-1-1) now sits third overall in the District 1 Class 4A rankings, behind only Owen J. Roberts and Abington. Downingtown East (6-2) sits in fifth place.
East had the best chance of the first overtime, when freshman forward Caroline McDonald’s shot at a winner went wide to the left. In the second overtime, it was Donovan who made her chance count.
“Caitlyn started on varsity as a freshman, now she is a junior, so you can see her growth each year and she does a good job for us,” said Conestoga head coach Benjamin Wilson.
Downingtown East looked strong out of the gates as it opened the scoring with an Aliza Trasatti goal, which was set up by McDonald with 21 minutes remaining in the first half.
Donovan’s first goal came off a series of short passes which ended with a nice through ball from forward Nia Scott, allowing Donovan to tie the game up 1-1 with just under five minutes remaining the first half.
The second of the Donovan’s goals came off of a deep ball that she was able to bring down and control at her feet. She found herself one-on-one with Downingtown East goalie Ashley Buchheit, calmly pushing a shot into the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead with 28 minutes left in regulation.
“We played really good soccer, especially for the first 25-30 minutes and it helped get us out to an early lead,” said Downingtown East coach Craig Reed.
Trailing 2-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, a lapse on defense from Conestoga saw McDonald burst through the defense and even the score.
“Our energy has been good and our 1-v-1 battles have been great,” said junior defender Maren Dougherty. “We have been getting forward pretty well and we can get even better if we use the width more.”
After McDonald’s golden opportunity in the opening overtime period went wide, Conestoga applied the pressure and started to get more shots on Buchheit.
“They are a really good team in Conestoga and if you don’t put good teams away early then it can come back and get you which it did today,” stated Reed.
Downingtown East 2, Conestoga 3
Conestoga 1 1 1 — 3
Downingtown East 1 1 0 — 2
Conestoga goals: Donovan (3).
Downingtown East goals: Trasatti, McDonald.
Goalie saves: Nselel (CON) 5, Buchheit (DE) 7.
