Hoosac Valley Girls Down Drury on Opening Day
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CHESHIRE, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley girls soccer team started its season by defeating rival Drury,
Friday afternoon's game was the first 80 minutes of soccer for the two teams, and the nerves were there on both sides.
But it was Hoosac's Maddie Vigna who quickly settled them for her team after putting one in the back of the net less than five minutes into the first half.
"I was on the far side and Olivia [Bresett] was on the other side and she saw me," Vigna said. "I cut to the middle and she crossed it in and I kicked it on net."
Vigna said the early goal definitely helped ease the nerves and got her team excited to be back on the field for the 2015 season.
The Hurricanes moved the ball well throughout the first half, controlling most of the play. They had some great opportunities on net, but Drury goalie Kately Toomey came up with some big saves.
A Carah Cote and Lily Kronick combination was able to put one past Toomey, though, before the end of the first half; Cote crossed the ball into the 18, where Kronick sent to the left corner, giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead.
"In the first half I had to take a timeout and say we have to stop playing a defensive game," Drury coach Maryjane Rumbolt said. "They just played defensively and stopped creating offense, so as soon as we regrouped and settled down we started moving the ball better."
The Blue Devils came out in the second half and were able to create some offense, which they lacked in the first, but they were unable to finish their few shots on net.
They held Hoosac to only one more goal that came midway through the half from Claudia Bresett from the left wing, sending it to the opposite corner just through the Drury goalie's hands.
"Our girls knew they needed to step up, we weren't playing our game and we were playing their game," Rumbolt said. "The second half, I couldn't have asked for a better half.They only scored once, and I think that was miscommunication on our defensive part."
The Hurricanes will be lacing up the cleats Saturday morning as they travel to East Longmeadow. First year head coach Kathy Budaj is pleased with her new team's first outing Friday afternoon, but knows Saturday morning will be a tough task.
"Everyone contributed, which is really nice to see; a lot of effort, they've been working hard in practice," she said. "I see some things that we need to work on obviously and tomorrow will be a good test against East Longmeadow."
Drury is back on the field Monday afternoon at home against Mount Anthony. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m.