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Apr 14, 2024

Crusaders edge the Huskies, 3

Aug 21, 2023 ON THE PITCH — Catholic Central’s Lydia Hermann possesses the ball in front of Harrison Central’s Emma Patterson. -- Mike Hughes CADIZ — Steubenville Catholic struck first Saturday on the

Aug 21, 2023

ON THE PITCH — Catholic Central’s Lydia Hermann possesses the ball in front of Harrison Central’s Emma Patterson. -- Mike Hughes

CADIZ — Steubenville Catholic struck first Saturday on the road at Harrison Central and seemingly held sway throughout the match’s entirety.

Possession time in the opponent’s half of the field? Advantage Crusaders. Shots on goal? Crusaders again. Even the momentum of the game seemed to favor the visitors.

But the scoreboard? It read 2-1 in favor of Harrison Central with 21:32 left in the match.

A second later, the tally returned to even as Jackie O’Karma angled a shot from the left side toward the right post past a diving Vanessa Dowdle.

Roughly 14 minutes later, Isabelle Lee put the Crusaders up for good as Steubenville Catholic left Cadiz with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in a mutual season opener.

O’Karma weaved her way between defenders and got loose on the left side before opting to aim opposite direction and let loose. It wasn’t her first breakaway-style attempt at Dowdle, but previous shots found their way into the talented junior keeper’s gloves.

This time, however, O’Karma found her mark.

“We saw something with a couple of her missed opportunities, and we made changes with her approach as she was taking her shots,” Steubenville Catholic head coach Jonathan Hoover offered. “That’s not easy to do in the moment, to make those adjustments, but she knew what she needed to do to put one in.”

The winning goal came with 7:28 showing. Maisy Symington ripped a shot toward the right side, but this time Dowdle’s dive tipped the ball, but the ricochet bounced off the inside of the post, back toward Dowdle’s side, and then toward the net.

Isabelle Lee, who furiously crashed toward the net after Symington shot, was able to chip in the loose ball for her second goal of the game. The first game on a well-placed direct kick with 18:05 left in the first half.

“Their goalie is very aggressive and we knew any rebound, that it was not going to be an easy ball to get,” Hoover said. “We knew it’d be contested quickly and I’m happy we were able to get where we needed to be.”

Dowdle wasn’t the only aggressive goalie. Crusaders’ sophomore keeper Josey Urbanczyk, in making her first start, showed why Hoover gave her the nod in net for Game 1.

Harrison had a good scoring opportunity early when senior Angi Ferri directed a pass far enough ahead of a sprinting Lily Gibbons where the junior could unleash from the middle of the box at Urbanczyk.

But the sophomore noticed the events as they developed, charged up and collided with Gibbons as she went not shoot, nullifying the opportunity. Urbanczyk needed a moment to collect herself and later was visited by the official to ensure she was okay.

She was. Urbanczyk made only six saves, but each required a bit of fortitude as Gibbons and Ferri both tried to put one past the rookie.

“Josie did a great job,” Hoover said. “That was her first start. She was willing to come off the line and not be afraid to get into the mix. There are little things to work on, but she’ll keep progressing.”

It helps being able to utilize a veteran back line, led by seniors Carolyn Kuebler and Kathryn Bolster, who did their best to mark and bottle up the speedy Ferri, who possesses a penchant for streaking past defenders on scoring runs.

“They were aware of her at all times, and they also double teamed Lily, so Angi reset on the other side to try to get open,” Harrison Central coach Mindy Madzia said.

Despite the loss, Madzia was pleased with her team’s effort, especially in the second half as they came to life and turned up the intensity.

It’s been a rough week in Huskies country. The team was primed for an exciting meet the team night Wednesday, followed by an opener against Big Red on Wednesday.

Then the unthinkable happened as Huskies’ nation learned of the tragic death of a sophomore student.

“It’s been a rough week mentally,” Madzia said. “They knew they wanted to play this game. Obviously we were on a big high Tuesday for meet the team, we were read to play Big Red and then everything happened.

“It totally put them in a different mindset and attitude. Today we had the first-game jitters in the first half, we had three first time starters and I’m just very proud of them for the efforts they gave on that field.”

Gibbons scored Harrison’s first goal with 11:10 left in the first half. She took two hard shots on the right side that deflected off Catholic Central defenders. But Gibbons wouldn’t be denied thrice as she lofted one past Urbanczyk to even the score a 1-1.

Ferri finally struck in the first half, but not because of her speed. Kat Carman lofted a high arcing pass toward the net, and Ferri played it off the bench with a well-placed header to give Harrison a 2-1 lead.

Hoover was impressed with the Huskies effort, especially given the circumstances.

“I have to hand it to Harrison,” Hoover said. “With everything they were going through, they came out and played hard. I’m very sorry for their loss.”

Dowdle finished with 13 saves in a busy afternoon.

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