Sheahan, Boyertown deal Phoenixville its first PAC-10 loss, 1-0
PHOENIXVILLE — After an unusually slow start to the girls soccer season, Boyertown appears to be getting back on track.
The Bears’ young squad continued that progression with a 1-0 victory over host Phoenixville in a Pioneer Athletic Conference battle at Washington Field Monday evening.
Senior midfielder Kasey Sheahan scored the lone goal of the contest in the sixth minute of action to boost Boyertown (5-2, 6-3). Sheahan tallied on a 20-yard blast from a direct angle the lower left corner of the net.
Phoenixville (6-1, 8-2) suffered its first loss in the PAC-10 with Bear goalie Sarafina Valenti needing just four saves to record the shutout.
Phantom goalie Lainey Michaud registered 11 saves with eight of them coming during the second half. Boyertown controlled possession throughout the night to create that many more opportunities for its offense.
“It was a huge win,’ said Sheahan. “We are all overjoyed.’
Boyertown maintained pressure up front with shifty work by Sheahan, Olivia Frazier, Sam Brensinger and freshman Hanah Mutter to test the Phoenixville defense with Maria Garofolo, freshman Corrine Renninger and Erin Reitmeyer providing solid work in the midfield. Taylor Sassaman, Taylor Landis and Kyle Graver held up the back line in front of Valenti.
“It was a horse race, back and forth,’ said Boyertown coach Bill Goddard, who is in his 13th season at the helm of the Bears. “This was probably our most complete game so far. We had a slow start, which is unusual for us. We have a young team and they are starting to figure it out. With efforts like that, we should be in the conversation.
“We knew they (Phantoms) were having a good year. We wanted to get off to a good start and we got a goal. Kasey hit a cracker, and we picked up our energy. Their personality players didn’t do much. They really didn’t have any good looks against us. It was a team effort by us. Everybody played well and battled.’
Each goalie had three saves during the first half, and there were no corner kicks awarded during the initial 40 minutes of play. Boyertown ended the night with three corner kicks to one by Phoenixville.
“We had a slow start, but we are starting to come together as a team,’ said Sheahan. “It is really showing. It (goal) was a nice change of pace to be in the lead, and we were able to hold that. It was nice. Our defense definitely was big. Honestly, I think our defense won that game. They controlled the ball so well. You can’t win without defense.’
Phoenixville coach Tim Raub felt his team did not play up to par.
“We didn’t play the way we have been playing lately,’ said Raub. “There are no excuses. We have to treat every game as a playoff atmosphere, and tonight we didn’t play with a playoff atmosphere. They (Bears) got one goal on us and made it stand.’
Opponents are bringing their best showings against the Phantoms in 2014.
“That’s what happens when you are undefeated in the league,’ said Raub. “For once, we are the hunted, instead of the hunter. We can’t allow hiccups, and tonight was one of those hiccups. We will be better and learn from this. Sometimes it is good to have a loss like this to put us back in our place. We know what we have to do to get there.’
Dakota Graham played an active role outside on the forward line for the Phantoms with a couple of shots and a long restart in the first half and then an indirect kick and corner kick in the second half. Phoenixville’s Lauren Benner had a couple of shooting attempts, late in each half. Freshman Kennedy Feindt had a five-minute stint up front midway through the second half.
