Strath Haven girls top Unionville in OT at Talen Energy Stadium

Chester >> Just 45 seconds before the end of the second overtime, Strath Haven freshman forward Lily Ostiguy nailed the game-winning shot to give the Panthers a 2-1 win against Unionville Tuesday evening under the lights at Talen Energy Stadium.

“Lily’s motor keeps on going,” said Strath Haven girls’ soccer head coach Gino Miraglia. “We moved her to midfield a little bit, and [then] at forward, trying to give her a little bit of space. We tried to move her around, she had a lot of energy tonight.”

The win improved the Panthers’ record to 2-0.

“Unionville’s the most talented technical team I’ve seen in a long, long time,” said Miraglia. “Joe [head coach Joe Ratasiewicz is a heck of a coach and does a great job with them. We were lucky enough to come out on top tonight, and I’m proud of my girls – they did a good job.”

With 10 minutes to go before halftime, Strath Haven was outshot 10-1 but thanks to some fine saves by senior goalie Claire Wolgast led 1-0. The goal was scored by junior midfielder Maggie Forbes off a corner feed from sophomore center back Dahlia Kuzemka at 29:01 of the first half.

Forbes smiled and said, “I knew Dahlia is a really good corner, and I knew if I got my positioning right I should be able to finish off her corner. Once I saw the ball coming in, I knew I had it.

“When I saw my shot go in, it was exciting because I know that Unionville is a super-tough competitor, and that getting a lead was so important because it dictates the rest of the game.”

Miraglia said, “Maggie is unreal; I don’t know how she climbed up and got that ball in a crowd of people. She’s great in the air, and it was a great athletic play.”

Later in the first half, the Unionville shot barrage slowed, and Strath Haven went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Wolgast, who finished with nine saves, said, “In the beginning of the game, even warming up, I think we were a little overwhelmed with excitement, and nerves. Unionville was really on top of their game shooting. But once we adjusted to their formation and their top players, we kind of settled in, and were able to lessen their shots.”

“In the beginning of the game, I think we weren’t communicating enough,” said Forbes. “Later in the first half I think we realized that communication was key for marking their players, and we got a good hold on it.”

Unionville junior Sara Darlington, a University of Pittsburgh commit, tied the game on a goal at 15:04 of the second half; then in the final four minutes of regulation, the Indians made several runs at the goal, but their shots were wide of the net.

Just 1:37 into the first overtime period, Wolgast made a nice save on a Darlington shot, then with 1:20 to go in the second overtime, Unionville senior goalie Katie Borlie made a game-saver for the Indians. Thirty-five seconds later, Ostiguy hit the game-winner.

Unionville head coach Joe Ratasiewicz said, “It was a hard-fought game; we had a lot of scoring opportunities but Strath Haven defended pretty well in the final third and their goalkeeper played well. But in the final two minutes they had it in our defensive third, and you’ve got to get the ball out of there. We turned it over three times, and the third time, it cost us the game.

“Being here on this field for the first time, it was probably a distraction for our kids, but we started to focus later in the game. I thought generally we played OK. [Senior] Jackie Hug gave us some momentum going forward; and when we inserted [sophomore] Mackenzie Malloy up top, she caused some trouble for Strath Haven. But that final pass, that final shot – if we had connected on two or three of them, it would have been a different game.”

For Strath Haven, the experience isn’t one the Panthers will forget soon.

“Being introduced before the game was kind of a crazy experience, exciting,” said Wolgast. “And it’s great playing on grass; it’s not what we’re used to.”

Miraglia said, “This was a great experience, this field is enormous and I think everyone was tired on both sides.”

Strath Haven 2, Unionville 1

Strath Haven       1       0       0       1       –        2

Unionville          0       1       0       0       –        1

Strath Haven goals: Forbes, Ostiguy.

Unionville goals: Darlington.

Goalie saves: Strath Haven – Wolgast 9; Unionville – Borlie 4.