With no playoff video games to stay up for due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highschool video games towards archrivals tackle added significance.
The contests are performed with postseason depth and fervour.
Thursday night time’s ladies soccer sport between Class A rivals Bangor and Hampden Academy resulted in an entertaining 1-1 time beyond regulation tie on the Bangor Excessive area.
It had every part a playoff sport might present, besides followers. Coronavirus pointers restrict out of doors gatherings to 100 folks and permit colleges to resolve whether or not or to not permit spectators.
Bangor senior striker Riley Andrews, who missed her junior yr resulting from knee surgical procedure, offered Bangor with a 1-0 lead simply 4:33 into the sport, however Broncos senior midfielder Eliza Parker equalized within the opening minutes of the second half.
Bangor is now 4-0-1, whereas Hampden is 5-2-1 with each losses coming towards 2019 Class B North champ Hermon.
Bangor had a aim within the ultimate two minutes of regulation and one other in time beyond regulation waved off resulting from offside. Each got here off rebounds, but it surely was dominated {that a} Bangor participant was offside when the preliminary pictures have been taken.
“It’s all the time like a playoff sport once we play Bangor. Each groups need it actual unhealthy,” Hampden Academy senior midfielder Libby Hughes stated.
“It’s all the time a battle. It’s important to play your hardest when you’re going to win,” Bangor sophomore winger Emmie Streams stated. “It actually felt like a playoff sport … the depth of the sport … simply going forwards and backwards at every felt actually good.”
Gamers from each groups play on membership groups collectively and that intensifies the rivalry.
“It was essentially the most intense competitors we’ve had shortly, which was thrilling,” Andrews stated. “Hampden performed rather well.”
Hampden Academy sophomore goalie Logan Daigle made two top-notch saves within the waning moments of the second half to protect the tie, together with a diving cease to rob Andrews of her sixth aim of the season.
Daigle completed with 10 saves on 21 pictures.
“Their goalie did a wonderful job,” Bangor coach Andrew Varisco stated. “We had some good probabilities however we couldn’t end them off within the second half and the time beyond regulation.”
“This was positively one of many highlights of the season. Bangor has an actual good staff. They’re exhausting to beat,” Daigle stated.
Andrews and Parker scored with comparable pictures from the correct facet, simply on the prime of the penalty space. Each have been completely positioned into the higher far nook and neither goalkeeper had an opportunity.
Excessive-percentage scoring probabilities have been at a premium within the first half as each groups defended effectively, getting numbers behind the ball and swarming to it. Bangor had an edge in possession.
The Broncos surged early within the second half and Parker’s aim got here off Hampden Academy’s third shot at aim over the primary two minutes of the interval.
“I noticed the opening and I went for it,” Parker stated. “Our first half was sort of tough however we bought pumped up at halftime and got here out stronger.”
Hampden Academy continued to create issues for Bangor with its ability and quickness, however the Rams started taking cost over the ultimate quarter-hour and regarded the extra prone to break the impasse down the stretch.
When Streams and fellow sophomore Anna Connors have been on the sphere collectively, their tenacity, velocity and craftiness down the flanks stored the Broncos on the again foot in a defensive mode.
Devon St. Louis, Andrews, Sophia Mullins and freshman Ani Roberts complemented Streams and Connors.
Hughes, Olivia Airey, Parker and Isabella McLaughlin have been among the many standouts for the Broncos together with Daigle.
Bangor goalies Emma McNeil and Hannah Osmer mixed for 4 saves on 19 pictures.
