ALL EVEN
Indians, Spartans play to draw as Stang fights for playoff berth
Nick Friar Contributing Writer
DARTMOUTH — After Dartmouth took care of business in the first meeting of the season with Bishop Stang girls soccer, neither side could gain a decisive edge on Saturday in the rematch, leading to a 1-1 tie at Hugh Carney Stadium.
With the tie, Dartmouth wins the season series, having won in their home match 3-0 earlier in the year. But the Indians knew Saturday's match at Hugh J. Carney Memorial Stadium would unfold a bit differently than the previous meeting.
"The first time we beat them, we beat them 3-0 and they were missing four kids — they were all starters and some of their better players," Dartmouth coach Scott Boudria said. "They were bigger, strong, faster, and controlled the ball better. Just better fundamentals. (Last time) they had freshmen where seniors would be playing. Those three years is a big difference."
Dartmouth took control of things offensively in the first half, keeping the ball in their attacking third for much of the match. But they weren't able to materialize their opportunities into much, with their one goal coming on a penalty kick scored by Kelly Medeiros in the 32nd minute.
"I thought we put a lot of good pressure on (their defense)," Boudria said. "This was the game where we probably had out least amount of shots. We only had five shots all game, we average over 20 shots a game. That's a big difference."
Bishop Stang couldn't manifest anything from their offense either. Quality connecting passes were being made up the field, but the Spartans' touch on the receiving end wasn't where it needed to be.
"That's been our season," Bishop Stang coach Robert Shields said. "We'll link two, three, four passes (in the neutral third of the field), but that last one that we really need, it falls apart. That one mishap in the final third, we don't get the opportunity and there lies the difference. Now they're countering. Now we have to play defense again.
"We're not a kick-and-chance type of team. We like to play small. We like to connect in that final third and get a quality touch. It just seemed like today, again, it was that final connection that we couldn't get to finish it off."
In the end, the Spartans accomplished the minimum of what they needed to do: secure a point — thanks to Olivia Fowler's goal in the 62nd minute. Now they head into their final four games needing to secure four of a possible eight points.
"We would have liked the two points, but the point keeps us in contention," Shields said. "It was great, that's what we wanted to get out of this. (Dartmouth) is a great team, they bring it every day.
"Unlike the first game, we matched their physicality and we actually even took it one step further. We were very physical. We did a great job winning 50-50 balls and winning balls out of the air and serving them in.
WHAT IT MEANS: Bishop Stang (6-7-1, 2-2 Eastern Athletics Conference) hosts Cardinal Spellman on Tuesday. … Dartmouth (9-3-2, 1-1-1 Old Colony League) also plays at home on Tuesday, hosting Bridgewater-Raynham on the Indians' Senior Night.
HOW THEY SCORED: After one of her teammates was fouled in the penalty box on what was nearly a one-on-one with Stang goalie Taylor Read, Medeiros found herself lining up for a penalty shot in the 32nd minute of the contest. Read elected to hold her position at the center of the net, while Read buried the shot in the bottom right corner. … Stang had several scoring chances in the second half, and made good on one. Dartmouth goalie Kolbie Durant parried two attempts on the net, but the Indians never cleared the ball, leaving an opportunity for Fowler to bury the equalizer in the 62nd minute.
QUALITY KEEPERS: Although there wasn't a bevy of shots on net from either side, both keepers were constantly rushing out of goal to handle loose balls and squander opposing attacks. … Read only surrendered the one goal on a penalty kick in the tie, stopping the other four shots that came her way. … "She's fabulous," Shields said. "She's smart. She comes out and plays balls when she should." … Durant finished with six saves in her standout performance. … "She played very well," Boudria said. "One of the better games she's had all season." … "She was fantastic for them today," Shields said of the Dartmouth goalkeeper.
LEADING FROM THE BACK: While Fowler scored Stang's lone goal and Read only surrendered one, the Shields and the Spartans continue to rely on center back Catherine Yeargin, who's not only been their top defender, but also crucial in the Spartans' counter-attack. "She continues to be the best player in this region," Shields said. "Because she's mistake-free, gets to everything and she facilitates from the back. It's not my first week saying it, week-in, week-out she drives our team. And you don't seem many teams like that."