Lady Lion keys win over rival Tigers
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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Sophomore attacking center-midfielder Ali Little has been Altoona's go-to player on penalty kicks this season.
"I love taking penalty kicks,'' Little said Thursday night after scoring on two second-half penalty kicks to lead Altoona to a 2-1 victory over archrival Hollidaysburg at Tiger Stadium. "I feel like I really work well under pressure, and I'm thankful to my teammates for being able to earn those penalty kick chances.''
Other Altoona players were fouled in front of the Hollidaysburg cage, but Little stepped up to take the shots that won the game for the Lady Lions.
It's been that way all season for Little, according to Altoona coach Derek Winterburn.
"The rest of our coaches and I really never tell any one player to do the penalty kicks, but Ali stepped up in that role for us early this season and she's been doing well with penalty kicks all season,'' Winterburn said. "She has scored five or six goals on penalty kicks for us this year.''
None were more significant than the ones that Little made against Hollidaysburg Thursday night.
She booted both kicks into the lower right corner of the cage behind Hollidaysburg sophomore keeper Natalie Foster to wipe out what had been a 1-0 deficit for Altoona.
Little made her first shot at the 10:43 mark of the second half, and the game-winner just over four minutes later, at 14:59.
"I felt very confident,'' Little said. "I always go to the right side every single time. I practice them a lot, so as soon as I take them, I know where they are going.''
On a night when both goalkeepers -- Hollidaysburg's Foster and Altoona senior Quinn DeAntonio -- made several fine stops, Little's heroics were enough to boost Altoona's season record to 13-4.
Hollidaysburg (also 13-4) had won 10 of its previous 11 games entering Thursday's matchup, but Altoona -- which also beat Hollidaysburg, 3-1 at Mansion Park on Sept. 12 -- wound up sweeping the series from the Lady Tigers, two games to none.
Hollidaysburg opened the scoring at the 22:57 mark of the first half when senior midfielder Seddy Clapper kicked a high shot into the upper right-hand corner of the cage after taking a corner kick assist from junior Chloe Stoehr.
Hollidaysburg coach Tristan delGiudice felt that his team played a good game and deserved a better fate.
He was upset about what he felt was a penalty-kick infraction committed by Altoona in the final minutes of the game that was not called by the officials.
delGuidice felt that DeAntonio interfered with a Hollidaysburg player who was approaching the cage.
"That was an obvious interference penalty that wasn't called, and it changed the outcome of the game,'' delGuidice said. "The officials put theirwhistles in their pockets on that play. There's no way that you can call the two penalty kicks against us and not call that.
"Their keeper came out and never played the ball - she played the person,'' delGuidice said. "Their keeper came out and interfered with our player who was trying to make a play on the ball. It's unfortunate to be talking about that after this game.''
delGuidice gave kudos to Hollidaysburg senior defender Kiersten Williams, who knocked away three potential open-net Altoona scoring opportunities.
"Kiersten Williams played as well as a defender could play tonight,'' delGuidice said. "She made three saves on shots that were heading toward the cage.''
It was the home finale for Hollidaysburg, which will wrap up its regular season at Clearfield next Monday and compete in the District 6 Class 3A championship game the following week.
Altoona closed its regular season Thursday and will have next week off before competing in the District 6 Class 4A title game.
"This is a rivalry game that is always a lot of fun,'' Winterburn said of the Hollidaysburg matchup. "This season has also been a lot of fun. We have a real good group of girls on this team who show up, always work hard, and get along well with each other.''
SCORE BY HALVES
Altoona 0 2 — 2
Hollidaysburg 1 0 — 1
First half
1, HOL--Clapper (Stoehr), 22:57.
Second half
2, A--Little (penalty kick), 10:43.
3, A--Little (penalty kick), 14:59.
Shots on goal: Altoona 14, Hollidaysburg 8.
Saves: DeAntonio, A, 7; Foster, H, 9; Williams, H, 3.
Records: Altoona (13-4); Hollidaysburg (13-4).