Overtime loss gives resurgent O’Hara positives to build upon
PHILADELPHIA — The initial look of dismay on the faces of the Cardinal O’Hara girls soccer team did not last long Thursday night. While Central celebrated its victory in the District 12 Class 4A title game, the Lions walked off the field slowly but with their heads held high.
Goalkeeper Kerry Patterson remained on the ground for a few, extra moments after allowing the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime decision at Northeast High School. She picked herself back up, and her teammates walked arm-in-arm with her to the sideline. In a game that came down to the final minutes of overtime, the Lions built up a drive will carry them into the offseason.
Junior sweeper Grace MacManus notes that her team will remember this moment and come back more improved because of it.
“This will definitely be the feeling we’re going to have to remember for next year,” MacManus said. “I think we can only get stronger. We’re only going to get better.”
Central’s Zoe Moosbrugger scored the decisive goal with 1:04 remaining in overtime, right by Patterson, to seal the victory and earn Central District 12’s lone states berth.
Patterson made nine saves on the night and MacManus made one challenge after the next on the backline.
Head coach Dave Cornish felt this was a loss his younger players needed to experience to develop and mature.
“You look into the juniors’ and sophomores’ eyes and you say, ‘You’ve got to step up and take this team forward so that next year we’re better when we come back into this final,’” said Cornish, whose team was coming off a 3-1 loss to Catholic League champion Lansdale Catholic.
In a back-and-forth opening half, Cardinal O’Hara struck first as senior Zyianna Wilmer found junior Laura Evangelist on a cross to give the Lions a 1-0 advantage at the 38:19 mark. Central immediately answered back as Ola Owodunni took a rebound off of a Patterson save and put one in the back of the net only 57 seconds later to tie the game.
The Lancers kept the pressure on the Lions in the second half, taking the ball deep down the sideline then pushing the attack back into the middle of the field. Moosbrugger tried to win it in the second but Patterson made a tremendous save. Senior Michele Matteo nearly ended the game for Cardinal O’Hara, who outshot the opposition 6-3 in that half, on a header with under three minutes left in regular, but Central goalkeeper Eden McLendon made one of her 10 stops in net.
In overtime, MacManus halted the Lancers’ first scoring chance by deflecting Owodunni’s strike from just inside the 18. Five minutes later, Moosbrugger closed things out off of a corner kick.
Central head coach Richard Johns stressed how his team’s conditioning was the difference in downing the Lions.
“I think that’s where our fitness work pays off,” Johns said. “I know they hate me when I make them do it but games like that are where you need it. It paid off for us and we just wanted it more than they did.”
The season may have ended for MacManus and the Lions, but she was pleased with being able to leave everything out on the field with this group.
“I’m so happy with the way we played today,” MacManus said. “Of course, it’s good to win but I wouldn’t have wanted to do this with any other team.”
