Sheehy’s late goal lifts North Penn over CB West
TOWAMENCIN >> The North Penn girls soccer team isn’t a fan of overtime, so Tia Sheehy made sure the Knights never got there.
Sheehy got free, used her speed to create space and then converted a well-taken shot to the low corner with 20 seconds left to give the Knights a much-needed result against Central Bucks West. Their home field hadn’t been too friendly in the early season, but the Knights not only found a way to break that hex, they did it without extra time.
Sheehy’s goal capped a tough effort as North Penn edged the Bucks 2-1 Tuesday afternoon.
“I played the ball forward and all I was thinking was ‘I can end the game right here,’” Sheehy said. “There was less than a minute left, so all I had to do was get a good touch and finish it and that’s what I did.”
The Knights (4-3-1, 2-1-1 SOL Continental) showed early they weren’t going to let the Bucks’ dynamic attackers break them down easily. Even with senior co-captain and center back Emily Schurr sidelined with an illness, the rest of the back line played determined.
At the middle of the effort was center back Casey Cavanaugh, who routinely came up on the winning end of a challenge or 50/50 to frustrate West’s attackers. CB West (4-3-0, 2-2-0) never really got into a rhythm offensively, and plenty of passes were intervened upon by blue-clad defenders.
“We did a good job of staying with the runners to make sure they didn’t get the through ball,” Cavanaugh said. “In past games that used to be one of our weaknesses but today we did on those.”
Neither team was able to find a goal at the half, but the Bucks certainly had more opportunities to do so. Knights keeper Anna Fiore was solid all game, making 11 stops and she was up to task in the first half with a couple clutch stops.
The backs – Marissa Dacosta, Rebecca Richardson, Cavanaugh and Landry Holt did their part as well, trying to limit CB West to shots from tough angles or outside the penalty box. Cavanaugh noted the potential of West’s attackers like Ryan Fitzsimmons, Shea Lubin and Taylor Moyer so the defense certainly had to be on task.
“They have fast people on the outside so we had to stay with them to make sure they didn’t get the ball,” Cavanaugh said. “
Knights co-head coach Mike Rio added the staff stressed playing the Bucks attackers tight to limit their chances. Rio cited the Bucks good run of form, which included a win over PAC power Spring-Ford last Saturday and said holding a team like that in check was a huge step for his group.
North Penn wasn’t trailing at half but it did take a significant loss when co-captain Grace Sacchetti was injured in a challenge right before the whistle. The team’s midfield engine, Sacchetti didn’t return but the Knights reserves picked up the slack.
“The way they played in the middle, they fought hard, they played hard,” Rio said. “Losing your captain with seconds left could really bring down or demoralize a team but I was really proud of the way the girls fought in that second half to get the first goal and for the rest of the game.”
Sheehy nearly had the game’s first goal, but her rocket of a shot was palmed over the bar well by West keeper Jenna Abaza. The ensuing corner however, would prove most fortunate for North Penn.
The service by sophomore Riley Saxman sailed right into the middle of the six-yard box, where Cavanaugh got enough of the ball to direct it home in the 54th minute. North Penn didn’t hold the lead long, but scoring the first goal was still vital.
“The first goal always gets you the momentum,” Cavanaugh said. “It was crucial to get the first goal.”
“West is a very good team, so you can’t start down,” Sheehy said. “You need the momentum so you have to go after that first goal.”
West equalized just three minutes later when Erin Fitzsimmons finally connected a through ball with forward Alexa Vail, who had a strong game off the bench with five shots on target. Vail was able to turn on the ball, created space and sunk her effort well to draw level at 1-1.
North Penn had some of its best attacking pressure in the last 10 or so minutes of the game, with striker Emily Varilla working hard to get loose and the rest of the Knights working for a connection.
Sheehy said she hadn’t as effective as she’d hoped scoring this season, jokingly chiding Rio when he noted she had a PK goal, but knew her chance late was one she had to put away. Their home field hadn’t been too kind, but all it took was that one chance.
“It was just the way the ball fell,” Sheehy said. “I had a big first touch, so I knew I had to get something into the corner. The shot was just a matter of seeing something and taking it.”
NORTH PENN 2, CB WEST 1
CB WEST 0 1 – 1
NORTH PENN 0 2 – 2
Goals: NP – Casey Cavanaugh (Riley Saxman), Tia Sheehy; CBW – Alexa Vail (Erin Fitzsimmons)
