ELSAH, IL – Principia Women's Soccer gave their fans something fun to watch as they opened their season at home last night with a 3-0 win over University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy.
A pretty even first half saw both teams finding their rhythm, with Principia leading 5-2 on shots and with just over half of the possession. However, just before halftime, the Panthers struck. With the clock ticking down in the final minute, Kaija Ufert found Viviane de Castro with a throw-in down the right wing. De Castro played back to the open Ufert, who picked out Mirsa Boyer in the middle of the park. Boyer's first touch broke a line of defense, and her second carried her inside the edge of the 18-yard box where she ripped a high shot off the fingertips of the Eutectics keeper and in.
"It was a perfect mood-lifter before halftime," said Coach Thomas, of the goal. "We had played well and created chances, but we didn't have anything to show for it on the scoreboard until that moment. Mirsa took her chance really well, and it was a great combination from Kaija and Viviane to set her up."
The second half started with the Eutectics ramping up the pressure. The Panthers had more defending to do, but they held firm. Coach Thomas had praise for his back line: "I thought Kaya Equevilley, Sophia Sacco, Kaija Ufert, and Olivia Scott did a very good job of making it hard for UHSP to get any presence in behind our defense or any comfort inside the box. That was one of the things we discussed before the game, and to only allow one clear-cut scoring chance in the first 90 minutes of the season is a sign of good things to come."
Goalkeeper Leslie Barrera was called into action in one big moment when a Eutectics player got through into the box. Barrera reacted perfectly and smothered the ensuing chance to maintain the shutout. "What can you say? That's what great goalkeepers do," Thomas said. "They stay ready for the one moment they're called upon & that's exactly what Leslie did for us today."
In the 76th minute, the Panthers defensive work would pay off. A UHSP goal kick won in the air by Olivia Scott fell to de Castro, who turned her man and unleashed a shot from 25 yards which rattled the bar. A Eutectics defender cleared it out to safety for a Principia corner kick. From the ensuing corner, Kannon Gill found a streaking Mirsa Boyer who deftly touched home her second goal of the game. "Kannon's services were dangerous all night long," said Thomas. The goal gave the home team a 2-0 cushion heading into the final stretch of the match.
There was still more to watch for the home crowd however. The Panthers kept pushing, riding the momentum of the goal, and in the 87th minute, Viviane de Castro produced a piece of magic. The Principia defense found Gill in the center circle, who slipped de Castro in behind the visitor's defense. Unfazed by three defenders trying to catch her, de Castro cut by one, slipped by a second, and bent a 25-yard screamer around the third, beating the keeper just under the crossbar to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. The goal was worthy of the Lo'eau Labonta inspired celebration that followed, and the Panthers would not relinquish the lead after that.
"Viv's goal was an incredible way to put a bow on a very exciting night for this group. I may have rolled my eyes at her celebration," Thomas laughed, "but to see them having fun on the field was the best part of the evening. I'm incredibly proud of how hard they worked against an unrelenting opponent, and I'm thrilled to see them rewarded for their efforts. There's still a lot that our staff sees as room for improvement, but as first games go, we were very happy with the performance."
Up Next: The Panthers will play host to Illinois College on Monday night at 7 pm.
