Henderson, Downingtown West battle to exciting 1-1 tie

WEST CHESTER >> “It was a playoff game without it a being a playoff game.”

That was how West Chester Henderson coach Craig Scangarella summed up Thursday’s exhilarating 1-1 tie with Downingtown West in a Ches-Mont League National Division contest.

Both teams came out with a much needed point. Henderson (11-2-2) is fighting Avon Grove for the top spot in the National, while the Whippets (9-5-2) were trying to improve their distirct playoff positioning, They started the day holding the final spot for the 24-team tournament.

West goalie Kylie Seckinger wasn’t very busy during the 80 minutes of regulation, but she came up huge when called upon in the overtime.

Sophomore Morgan Chiazza, whose speed gave the West backline fits all game long, broke free and a shot from about 20-yards out. Seckinger rose and just got enough of the ball, touching it over the crossbar.

“I was kinda of praying there, I’m not going to lie,” said the junior goalkeeper. “I kinda closed my eyes a little.”

She also came up with a diving save on Hanna Laudermilch, where she was at full stretch.

The Warriors had the better of the chances in the extra session, but both defenses were resolute and enabled both teams to share the spoils.

The Whippets got on the board first nearly 10 minutes into the contest. Freshman Ella Jahromi had some room on the right wing and whipped in a cross that a wide open Morgan Jones met with her head and thumped it into the net.

Henderson had been having some issues with slow starts lately, and it reared up again Thursday.

“We have to overcome that. It’s been two games in a row,” said Scangarella. “We had the same thing happen Tuesday at Rustin. We had some bite and got the tying goal, and had some chances in the second half. I’m proud of the fight from the girls.”

The Warriors came close to equalizing when a long ball got behind the West defense. Chiazza corralled it and had a partial breakaway, but Seckinger had the vital intervention as dove to smother the ball and end the threat.

Moments later, Chiazza broke through again, this time, earning a corner kick. The service dropped into a mass of humanity in front of the net where sophomore Peyton Quinones turned it in to tie the score.

Henderson thought they broke the deadlock later on in the half, but had a goal disallowed due to a foul.

The Whippets’ best chance to take the lead came seconds before the break. Ava Minnier got herself a little bit of space from distance and unleashed a left-footed shot that hit the base of the left post.

The Warriors now prepare for a huge showdown on the road against Avon Grove on Monday, while the Whippets will host West Chester Rustin.

Downingtown West 1, West Chester Henderson 1, OT

Downingtown West 1 0 0 0 – 1
W.C. Henderson 1 0 0 0 – 1
Downingtown West goal: Jones.
WC Henderson goal: Quinones.
Goalie saves: Seckinger (DW) 3; Collier (WCH) 4, Schellhammer (WCH) 3.