Koury, Owen J. Roberts blank West Chester Rustin 1-0 in District 1-4A second round
BUCKTOWN >> It sounds stranger out loud.
“My right foot,” Gabbi Koury responded when asked which is her dominant foot. “But I prefer my left honestly.
“I just don’t think as much when shooting with my left so it’s just natural.”
‘Natural’ is the perfect way to describe the athletic ability of the Owen J. Roberts three-sport standout who sent the girls soccer team to the District 1 Class 4A quarterfinals Thursday night.
Junior midfielder Koury’s 35-yard left-footed blast with 4:31 left in regulation was all the scoring the No. 2 seed Wildcats required in a 1-0 victory over No. 14 West Chester Rustin.
“The whole game I felt we had momentum. We had so many opportunities but we were waiting for the right one,” Koury said. “And we finally got the finish.”
One goal has often been all that was necessary for an Owen J. Roberts team (19-1-1) that now has 17 shutouts and allowed just five goals in 21 matches.
“Our defense is definitely dominant. We communicate so much and everything flows. We all have each other’s backs,” said Koury.
OJR advances to the quarterfinals Saturday where it will face the winner of Avon Grove and Haverford.
Rustin, which defeated Unionville in the first round, saw its season conclude with a 12-5-3 record.
There was disappointment in the result but not the performance for Rustin head coach Ashley Ainsworth.
“They had so much heart, so much grit. They were just waiting for it to come,” Ainsworth said. “(OJR) had a really good team and really had a lot of pressure in the back. We started to fall into being a little more defensive sometimes instead of really pulling through in the attack. A few good chances at the end, but they are a really good team who gave us a good run.”
The OJR back four of seniors Mo Weaver, Rachel Sbei, Caleigh Bold and freshman Ashly White were at their ball-winning best while conceding only four shots on goal, all dealt with by freshman goalkeeper Rachel Epps.
“It was a really hard clash,” said right back Bold. “I was working really hard the whole time and I’m really glad Gabbi got one. That was amazing.”
Koury also gets credit on the defensive side as the Wildcats’ defensive midfielder. It’s a position that is a focal point in OJR’s system under veteran coach Joe Margusity and one she’s held down the past three seasons.
Not bad for Koury’s second sport – she was the Mercury All-Area Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year last spring and will play lacrosse collegiately at the University of Florida.
The Wildcats bossed the first half but genuine scoring chances were few and far between. Koury and Olivia Thompson controlled the midfield but the Rustin defense – senior Maegan Quinn, junior Hope Donnelly and freshmen Jordyn Krafchick and Leila Duffie – prevented OJR from connecting well in the final third.
The Golden Knights grew into the game in the second half with seniors Mia Amen and Lindsay Krafchick leading the charge.
It was an even game when Thompson passed to Koury 35 yards from goal and it growing apparent a moment of individual excellence would be required for a goal to get past Rustin keeper Erika Seelaus (nine saves).
Cue Koury and her left foot.
“The team works so well together and all of our combinations left me wide open,” she said. “I really give all the credit to my team for giving me the chance.”
Rustin qualified for districts in Ainsworth’s first year in 2020 and went a step further this fall.
“I’m a counselor at school and a coach so I’m fortunate to know the girls inside and outside school,” Ainsworth said. “My goal for the season was to build more of a culture of keeping them competitive but having fun and giving them a lot of decision-making and leadership opportunities. … I want them to be involved so that when they leave here it’s not just about the wins or the losses, but that they’re happy with how the season went.
“I knew today was going to be tough but I was more happy that they were ecstatic to get to this point and to be there for each other.”
Rustin’s seniors include their three captains, Amen, Lindsay Krafchick and Holly Turner, as well as Quinn and Brienna Spano.
The seniors are on the mind of the Wildcats too.
“I think the whole team is really playing for our seniors because we want them to have the best season possible,” said Koury.
A win away from qualifying for the PIAA tournament, Bold and her fellow seniors couldn’t be more appreciative.
“It’s really exhilarating honestly,” she said. “I’m really proud of everybody for working as hard as they work. We wouldn’t be here if they weren’t working their butts off.”
Owen J. Roberts 1, West Chester Rustin 0
OJR 0 1 – 1
Rustin 0 0 – 0
Scoring: Gabbi Koury (Olivia Thompson assist), 4:31 2H
Corners: OJR 6, WCR 3
SOG: OJR 10, OJR 4
Saves: OJR-Rachel Epps 4; WCR-Erika Seelaus 9.
