Friedman nets winner as Wissahickon rallies in 2nd half to beat Upper Dublin
UPPER DUBLIN >> In a span of 32 seconds late in the second half, the Wissahickon girls soccer team took its first lead, found itself back level with host Upper Dublin then was once more ahead of the Cardinals in the Suburban One League Liberty Division contest.
“There were three goals in like 30 seconds,” Trojans senior Kylie Friedman said. “So it was hectic.”
Lannah Werynski knocked a ball in off the far left post with 8:32 remaining in regulation to put Wissahickon in front 3-2 after trailing 2-0 at halftime. Twenty seconds after, UD’s Lilli Kleiman collected her second goal to even things at three apiece Wednesday afternoon.
Friedman, however, had a response just 12 seconds later.
“I was struggling a little bit in the beginning of the game, didn’t get many touches on the ball,” Friedman said. “But we got scored on and 3-3. And I was like I got to come back. And ball went up in the air, I got it down, flicked it to myself a little, went around a girl, shot it low, bottom right.”
Friedman’s tally at 7:51 had the visitors leading yet again and Trojans maintained this advantage, holding on to edge Upper Dublin for a 4-3 victory.
“I think once our team gets locked in, we show our composure really well,” Friedman said. “We can pass the ball, once we start finding feet through the middle especially we have some speed, we have some talent up top so I think we work well off of that once we get settled in the game.”
Emma Greenberg and Sage Stelzer also scored for the Trojans (1-1-0, 1-1-0 division), who erased a two-goal halftime deficit for the second this week. Wiss rallied to force overtime against Hatboro-Horsham Monday but fell 3-2 in the extra period. Wednesday’s comeback win allowed the defending SOL Liberty champions to avoid a 0-2 start in division play.
“We definitely have a lot of younger players, so we don’t want to get them too scared and nervous in the games but going down 2-0 both halves is not something that we should be proud of,” Trojans senior Stelzer said. “And we’re getting the same halftime talk both games that this is not going to cut it all season. And if we want to win the league and be in playoffs, we need to score goals and not be the back team in the first half.
“So I think that really hit home for everyone and we just came out and we were aggressive. Took our chances.”
Meg McNeel gave Upper Dublin (0-2-0, 0-2-0) a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute while Kleiman doubled the margin with the first of her two goals at 7:38 before intermission.
But Wissahickon pulled level a little more than 15 minutes into the second half and came out ahead during the three-goal flurry to keep the Cardinals searching for their first win.
“I liked our play for most of the game,” UD coach Chuck Gesing said. “We generated lots of opportunities. We talk a lot about not just generating the opportunities but executing and I thought we came up a little short on the execution end today. And we gave them some opportunities on our end that were kind of uncharacteristic. And all the credit to them, they pounced on it and put’em away.”
Both teams hosts nonleague matchups Friday – Wissahickon taking on Lower Merion at 11 a.m. while Upper Dublin faces Methacton at 3:30 p.m.
“The good part is – and my assistant said – we don’t think anybody’s getting out of this league unscathed,” Gesing said. “So that’s the upside. The downside is right now we’re the ones who are 0-2. So it’s just a matter of turning it around, getting the results and really being clearer with the execution. The opportunities are there – that game was there for the taking today, credit to Wiss, they took it, we didn’t, we roll on.”
Wissahickon cut the Cardinals’ lead to 2-1 at 34:20 in the second half as a shot hit off the left post and Greenberg was there in front to put in the rebound.
“I just think we came out slow both games – you know, beginning of the season, kind of happens,” Friedman said. “But we came out with way more intensity, way more hard work and effort and we really come through in the second half.”
The Trojans tied it at two close to 10 minutes later as Stelzer opted to take a shot from well outside the 18-yard box and the Pitt commit’s effort found the back of the net at 24:50.
“We didn’t put any shots up in the first half so I knew that she would be a little frazzled and be shaky in the back,” Stelzer said. “So just shooting and seeing whatever happens, if she drops it we get a little tap-in and there we go, get a goal.”
It stayed 2-2 until 8:23 when Werynski put a shot in off the far left post, the Trojans not fully realizing they had taken the lead until the official’s signal for a goal.
Wiss’ advantage lead lasted only 20 seconds as Kleiman struck for a brace but Friedman’s answer a dozen second later proved to be the winning tally.
“Lannah’s goal that was a little questionable but definitely I saw net,” Stelzer said. “So that was great to go up against them because we haven’t been winning any of the games, we never had a lead in any of our games this season. So then once then tied it up and then Kylie scored it was a sign or relief and we just knew we had to see the half out with the few minutes that were left.”
McNeel collected Wednesday’s opening goal at 15:21 in the first half, the junior getting past the defense then ripping a ball into the net’s far right side.
“That’s what Meg can do,” Gesing said. “And she surprises people.”
The Cardinals extended the lead in the 33rd minute. Wissahickon defended a UD corner but the ball stayed in the Trojans’ half and found its way to Kleiman, who connected on a shot that got past the keeper and made it 2-0.
“We got two from Lilli which was great,” Gesing said. “And she had opportunities to get more, which was cool. She’s her own worst critic, she was real hard on herself after the game but we all have to show up, we all have to execute. It just can’t come down to two people and I think we’ll get more from people, it’s just a matter of getting on the same page.”
Wissahickon 4, Upper Dublin 3
Wissahickon 0 4 — 4
Upper Dublin 2 1 — 3
First Half: Meg McNeel (UD) 15:21; Lilli Kleiman (UD) 7:38.
Second Half: Emma Greenberg (W) 34:20; Sage Stelzer (W) 24:50; Lannah Werynski (W) 8:23; Kleiman (UD) 8:03; Kylie Friedman (W) 7:51.
