Bresetts Lift Hoosac Girls Past Taconic
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- After controlling the game most of the way on Wednesday at Taconic, the Hoosac Valley girls soccer team suddenly found itself clinging to a one-goal lead midway through the second half.
But Carah Cote set up Claudia Bresett with about seven minutes left to secure a 3-1 win for the Hurricanes.
“We just couldn’t finish,” Hoosac coach Kathy Budaj said. “[Taconic keeper Jackie Boateng] did great. I mean how many shots did she stop? She kept them in the game, no question.
“But when you don’t finish, and you give up a goal, now you’re, ‘Oh, no. The momentum can swing.’ We came back and got that other goal, but we shouldn’t be thinking about needing a goal to take the pressure off. We should have had them prior.
“That kind of stuff, we’ll work on. They came off a day off yesterday after a tough game.”
In fact, after that tough 4-3 win over Amherst on Monday, Budaj gave more time off during the game Wednesday to a few of her starters.
But Olivia Bresett, who sat out the second half, was a big factor before the break, recording a goal and an assist to give Hoosac (3-1) a 2-0 lead.
In the 13th minute, Bresett put back a rebound off Boateng, who finished with 15 saves. Moments later, Bresett set up Ellie Field for a second goal, and it looked like the ‘Canes were off to the races.
But Boateng and the Taconic defense stiffened, despite constant pressure in the first 40.
“Jackie’s having an amazing season,” Taconic coach Jenna Giardina said. “She is not scared of anybody. She has great reflexes. She trains a lot in the offseason, and it shows.”
Taconic (2-4) finally broke through against Hoosac in the 60th minute. Kristen Borelli took over sole possession of the team goal-scoring lead with her fourth of the season, knocking one under the crossbar and over keeper Kailynne Frederick (three saves) from about 15 yards out on the right wing.
Taconic got a temporary lift, but Claudia Bresett’s second goal of the season took the wind out of their sails and sent the Hurricanes back to Cheshire with a three-game winning streak.
Still, Giardina knew there were some positives from Taconic’s effort.
“Our last couple of hard games -- Mount Everett, Pittsfield, these guys -- our second half has been the best soccer we’re playing,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out how to do that in the first half.
“I’m pretty happy with this result compared to last year [a 7-0 loss to Hoosac]. There’s a lot of stuff we can build on. That’s a great team, and I think we competed with them for at least half if not the majority of the game.”
Hoosac Valley has a big match with Lenox on Friday evening. Taconic goes to Chatham, N.Y., on Saturday.