Avon Grove edged Henderson for first Ches-Mont National title
By Bryan Davis
bdavis@medianewsgroup.com
@btdavis25 on Twitter
WEST GROVE >> Champions.
It took a long time for the Avon Grove girls soccer team to be called that. They have never worn the Ches-Mont League National Division crown.
That was before a cool, crisp mid-October Monday night.
The Red Devils made an early second-half goal stand up to defeat West Chester Henderson, 1-0.
“I’m just so excited,” said junior Rachel Enache, who scored the game-winning goal. “Our school isn’t always successful and we’re just so excited that we made it this far and we’re proud of ourselves for pulling through. We’re just really excited we did this.”
Avon Grove remained unbeaten in the National at 10-0-1 with one game to play.
“So happy for this team. This team has been through a lot together,” said Avon Grove coach Joe Herman. “Every time, they battled and showed the character to come back and do it again. I’m so proud of them. I’m so happy for them. They worked so hard for this. They deserved it.”
With two stingy defenses, goals would figure to be hard to find. And it proved to be true.
The first half ended scoreless with Avon Grove holding a 4-3 shots on goal advantage. The Warriors (8-2-1, 11-3-2) had the best chance as Amelia Krapf slipped a ball to Olivia Bradley, whose shot forced Grace Keen to dive low to her left to corral it.
Less than three minutes into the second half, the Red Devils broke through.
Sophomore Eden Veenema’s long throw went into the box. As the ball remained loose, Henderson’s substitute goalie Kennedy Stark came out to play the ball, but was knocked down in a collision with a couple of other players. Play continued on and Enache was able to knock it into the open goal to give Avon Goal the vital opening goal.
“Eden sent it in there really far and MK (Mary Kate Walker) our forward ran at the goalie and managed to it away from and I was right there. Super excited it went in.”
From the other side, Henderson felt that a foul should’ve been called for the contact with the goalie.
“We were on the right side of that kind of a call against Downingtown West and we weren’t tonight,” said Henderson coach Craig Scangarella. “We had to have her treated for a concussion, so I thought there should’ve been a call.”
After the goal, the Avon Grove defense hunkered down and prepared to repel Henderson’s attacks. Their best chance to equalize came midway through the half. Maura Fisher sent a ball into the ball that Payton Quinones flicked on towards the goal. Emma Moss, who came in after halftime, reached up and tipped the ball over the crossbar.
“It was a bit out of my reach, It was a reflex. I saw it coming in and my first intinct was to hit it over the bar,” said Moss.
Moss was also full of praise for her backline.
“They’re the best part of the team,” she added. “They always there to keep me in check and they’re always there to defend me and I’m there to back them up.”
Henderson ramped up the pressure in the final four minutes of the game, but could not get anything past Moss. The horn sounded and the celebrations began, culminating in a small confetti cannon set off on the sideline.
The Red Devils finish up their Ches-Mont slate Wednesday at West Chester Rustin. But, for a day at least, they will revel in a new name for the team.
Champions.
Avon Grove 1, West Chester Henderson 0
WC Henderson 0 0 – 0
Avon Grove 0 1 – 1
Avon Grove goal: Enache.
Goalie saves: Collier (WCH) 3, Stark (WCH) 0; Keen (AG) 1, Moss (AG) 2.
