Germantown Academy turns the tide, rallies past Wissahickon in non-league clash
WHITEMARSH >> Germantown Academy slowed the ball down, was more deliberate on offense, and its one-goal-at-a-time approach paid off in a one-goal victory.
“It was exciting. It was close at the end but we held onto it,” said the Patriots’ Emma Goodwin.
“That was a full game. And that’s a really good team,” GA coach Jay Foster said of the Trojans. “The girls had patience. And we tried not to force it like we did in the first half. And it came out our way today.”
The Patriots rallied back from deficits of 11-7 and 13-9 to earn a 14-13 victory over the Trojans in a cold and blustery twilight contest on the turf at GA.
“We knew we had to work together, use the assist and play well off of one another,” said Goodwin, who poured in four goals along with an assist. “We run a lot of plays and they all started to click in the second half.”
The win raised GA’s record to 4-3 on the season, with a home Inter-Ac contest coming up on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against rival Episcopal Academy.
The Trojans dropped to 5-2 on the season, with an SOL American game coming up on Wednesday at Springfield Montco at 3:45.
“This was a great lesson as we move further into our season, to stick to our game plan, have a little bit more discipline as we play tougher games, and limit our fouls,” Trojans coach Nicole Fisher said. “It’s a great lesson and a great chance to move forward.”
One of three goals by GA’s Mia Raven deadlocked things at 13 apiece with 3 minutes and 57 seconds left.
The Patriots then pushed ahead for the first time, 14-13, on a goal by Goodwin with 3:19 to go.
Sadie Hess made a clutch save, one of four she made on the day, and Heidi Cross (three goals), captain and defensive standout, recovered a ground ball and spent the last of her draining energy to race up field and ensure GA could work the ball around in Wiss’ end to run out the final two minutes of a 50-minute battle.
“I was telling my team – it’s gonna be a full game,” Foster said. “Wissahickon’s a very solid team. They’ve got a lot of seniors and those seniors are ballers. They’re just strong, aggressive players going to the goal.”
The Trojans led by as many as three in the first half and went into the break ahead 8-6. Emma Baker had a game-high five goals, and Emma Greenberg and Lexie McCabe each added three. Maddy Radell and Lex Hobson chipped in a goal each.
The Trojans surged to a 13-9 advantage but then GA mounted its comeback. Maggie Borek added three goals for the Pats and Sydney Wanner chipped in another.
“We started to get our share of the draw controls,” Foster said of turning the tide. “Wiss was winning them in the first half, but once we started getting first use of the ball, and just slowing it down a bit, that worked to our favor. It gave our defense a chance to get a rest and it took the pressure off of them.”
Germantown Academy 14, Wissahickon 13
Wissahickon 8 5 — 13
Germantown Academy 6 8 — 14
Wiss goals-assists: Maddy Radell 1-0, Emma Baker 5-0, Lex Hobson 1-1, Emma Greenberg 3-1, Lexie McCabe 3-0.
Germantown Academy goals-assists: Sydney Wanner 1-0, Heidi Cross 3-0, Mia Raven 3-2, Emma Goodwin 4-1, Maggie Borek 3-0.
