The Patriots dropped their second straight game as they fell 5-2 against the Bonny Eagle Scots. This game was much closer than the scoreline shows. The Patriots put on a great display, dominating several aspects of the game, but didn’t earn the desired result due to several flashes of brilliance by Scot senior Hailey Coons.
The first twenty minutes of the game belonged to the Patriots. The midfielders locked down Hailey defensively while controlling the tempo offensively. The ball stayed in the midfield or the Scots defensive end for the majority of that first twenty minutes. After the sanitization break, the Scots found some success with a new strategy. Hailey was moved out of the midfield and into the left forward position, and the midfield just began sending long balls to her. She scored the first goal of the game with seventeen minutes left. She shot it past Ivy Abrams as she tried to come out and make a stop.
The Patriots quickly equalized though, scoring less than a minute and a half later. They earned a free kick near the corner flag. West Duffy sent a high, long ball into the box that found Ellie Schlichting wide open for a redirect into the goal. A couple minutes later the Scots took the lead again on a similar play as before, getting in behind the defense and taking on Ivy one-on-one. She scored one more before the half ended to give the Scots a 3-1 advantage going into the half.
Less than five minutes into the second half Hailey would score her fourth goal of the game. This goal came in a more controversial fashion. Prior to the goal Ivy made a spectacular save, followed by another great save and a collision with players. The goal happened as Ivy was still trying to get up from the opposing player laying on top of her.
The Patriots would get one back a few minutes later when West took a free kick from about 35 yards out. She sent a hard long shot into the far post. The keeper was able to get a hand to it, but only enough to hit it into the top of the net. The final goal of the game came four minutes after this one. Hailey was once again in a one-on-one situation with Ivy and calmly slotted it past her and just inside the far post.
The Patriots fall to 1-2 with the loss and the Scots improve to 1-2. The Patriots will look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to St. Dominic’s Academy to take on the Saints Friday October 9th. This will be varsity only, kicking off at 4pm.
