High School Soccer:
Paul VI And Cherry Hill East Play To Scoreless Tie In Warm-up For Playoffs

Saturday, October 30, 1999

By Forrest Robleto
SJSports Staff Writer

The Paul VI Lady Eagle's came into this game with a very impressive 14-0-1 record. Cherry Hill East's 9-3-1, while not shabby certainly made them the underdogs. Brian Sheehan, the coach of the Eagles, expected a good game against a "quality" team. But he expected to win. The Eagles were playing without Jill McKeever (injury) and the Cougars were playing without Meredith Sobel. This game was a makeup game for a regular season game that was cancelled due to weather. The teams meet again on Friday (November 5). The teams played through 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes (2 - 10 minute) of overtime without scoring, but not without excitement.

The shots were fairly even throughout the game and the shots were practically all scoring opportunities. Less than six minutes into the game, Marissa Kravitz made a perfect centering pass to Nicole Thurston who got off a good shot that went just wide of the outside right corner of the net. With 9 minutes left in the first half, Arian Dugandzic got the ball in close and got off a good shot that had Emily Brenner diving to make the fingertip save. With the Cougar keeper on the ground, Mary Daly managed to keep Adrienne Dugandzic away long enough for Jen Padlo to clear the ball. With just over 15 minutes left in the game, Jen Padlo went down and got up very slowly after an Eagle flurry in front of the Cherry Hill net.

Amanda Kravitz would later be taken for X-ray's and Perry Brenner came out with a bruised sternum but was able to return to the game. This was a very physical game. Shots in the first half were 6-5 in favor of Cherry Hill, but the scoring chances were about even. Shots in the second half were again 6-5, but the play was more evenly matched than that as the teams traded superb scoring opportunities.

Kristen Harris, eight minutes into the second overtime, was awarded a direct kick that she hit perfectly over the heads of the wall. The ball hit the bottom of the crossbar just high enough to bounce straight down into the waiting arms of Emily Brenner. It was the closest either team got to a score in the entire game. With less than a minute to go in the second overtime, the Cougars put together an impressive offensive display that involved virtually the entire offense. The Eagles finally managed to get the ball out and sent it forward to the ever dangerous Adrienne Dugandzic. She got the ball past every defender except Emily Brenner, but she was in pretty close and didn't get much of a shot off.

The teams meet again on Friday and they're very well matched. Jill McKeever unfortunately will not be back, but Meredith Sobel will.

Photos by Forrest Robleto