Washington edges St. Al in district soccer match

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, September 14, 2022

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St. Aloysius' Kennedy May, right, kicks the ball while Washington School's Caroline Murrell (11) defends during Tuesday's game at Farrell Stadium. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

St. Aloysius' Hope Baker handles the ball in front of Washington's Brantley Nimrod (4) during Tuesday's game. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

St. Aloysius soccer player Taryn Lusby kicks the ball during a game against Washington School on Tuesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

St. Aloysius' Bree Butler and Washington's Kate Andrews (1) chase the ball during Tuesday's game. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

St. Aloysius' Emily Cook takes a throw-in against Washington School. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

St. Aloysius' Madi Mathews, left, and Washington's Reed Hooker (19) battle for the soccer ball during Tuesday's game at Farrell Stadium. Washington won, 1-0. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

For 80 minutes Tuesday, St. Aloysius and Washington School played to a standoff.

It was 8 seconds that made the difference.

Washington’s Caroline Horn took advantage of a brief defensive lapse to score off a free kick, and the Lady Generals beat St. Al 1-0 in a girls’ soccer match at Farrell Field.

“It was a physical match on both sides. You’re going to have those kinds of matches. But only one play cost us,” St. Al coach Gio Baldizon said. “The other team played it fast. Our backs are facing the ball and the ball goes in the air. You’ve got to turn and face the ball. We didn’t do that. It just took that one play.”

Horn’s goal came in the 54th minute. She took a quick shot while St. Al’s defense was retreating and setting up, and put it past keeper Madelyn Roesch into the left side of the net.

It was the only breakthrough for either offense in a tight defensive game. Washington outshot St. Al 8-3, with Roesch making seven saves and Washington keeper Lela Signa three. Most of the game was played in the midfield, and neither team had long periods of sustained offensive pressure.

“The defense plays great all the time. I think a lot of times, it’s just something in front of that goal on our end,” Baldizon said.

St. Al (3-3-1, 0-4 MAIS Division II West) was eliminated from playoff contention, while Washington (6-4, 2-1) kept its hopes alive. St. Al’s two losses to Washington have both been by one goal.

“Every time we’ve played these teams in our district, we play them tough. We just can’t get the goals,” Baldizon said.

The Lady Flashes still have three games remaining this season — against Bayou on Sept. 19, Madison-St. Joseph on Sept. 22 and Pillow Academy on Sept. 26. All three are at home.

Although the playoffs are off the table, Baldizon said the Lady Flashes don’t plan to go quietly into the offseason.

“We’re just going to go out there and give it a swing. You never know,” he said. “Just try to get at least one of the three. If we spoil somebody, that’ll be even better. We’ve got nothing to lose.”

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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