Lady Lions triumph on own goal
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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG - The Altoona Area High School girls soccer team has had plenty of success due to its own initiative this season while winning 11 of its 14 games.
That said, sometimes it doesn't hurt for a team to have a fortuitous bounce go its way.
That was the case Monday night at Tiger Stadium, when Altoona junior forward Sophia O'Dea's center cross from the deep right wing intended for teammate Lia Sankey deflected off a Hollidaysburg defender and into the Hollidaysburg cage for the only goal of the game 15:43 into the second half, giving the Lady Lions a 1-0 victory and a sweep of the two-game season series between the archrivals.
"I was down by the end line and I attempted a cross over to Lia out in front of the net, but their defender wound up putting it in,'' O'Dea said. "It feels good to win both games with them this year. Since my freshman season, we haven't lost a game to them.''
It was an unfortunate set of circumstances for Hollidaysburg (4-4-1), but a pleasant windfall for Altoona, which dominated the first half before Hollidaysburg got its legs in the second half.
"It was an own goal where Sophia played the ball and it deflected off one of their defensive backs and went in,'' Altoona coach Marc Frye said. "Sophia has incredible speed and, coming in with that kind of pace, any type of deflection towards the goal is going in.
"You've got to get a break every once in awhile, though,'' Frye added. "We'll take it.''
Hollidaysburg also surrendered an own goal in the first meeting between the two teams back in late August at Mansion Park, when Altoona scored a 2-1 double-overtime victory.
"That's two own goals in two games this year against Altoona,'' Hollidaysburg coach Tristan delGiudice said. "If we don't give up an own goal in the first game, we win it in regulation. If we don't give up an own goal tonight, we go into overtime.
"Two own goals sunk us in both games,'' added delGiudice, whose team plays Bishop Guilfoyle Academy tonight at Tom Irwin Field. "We need to get better with ball security.''
Altoona dominated the scoreless first half, taking eight shots on goal to just one for Hollidaysburg. The second half was more balanced. Altoona wound up with a 13-4 shots-on-goal edge for the game, and Hollidaysburg senior keeper Natalie Foster was very good again as she has been all season, keeping the Lady Tigers in the game with several outstanding first-half saves.
"She's awesome,'' delGiudice said of Foster. "She's been excellent all season. In both games against (Altoona) this year, we tried to restrict them to outside shots. I thought that we outplayed them in the second half tonight.''
Frey -- whose team visits DuBois Wednesday --- was quite grateful that his team was able to get out of Tiger Stadium with a win Monday night.
"They're a proud program -- we knew that we'd be in for a fight tonight,'' Frey said of the Lady Tigers. "We had the better of the play in the first half, but in the second half, we got a little sloppy, and they definitely came out and pushed us.
"We were able to fight them off,'' Frey added. "Both of our games with them this year were great games. I'm proud of girls for pulling this game out tonight.''
SCORE BY HALVES
Altoona 0 1--1
Hollidaysburg 0 0--0
Second half
1, A--Own goal credited to O'Dea (unassisted), 15:43.
Shots on goal: Altoona 13, Hollidaysburg 4.
Saves: Rodriquez, A, 4; Foster, H, 12.
Records: Altoona (11-3); Hollidaysburg (4-4-1).
JV: Altoona, 3-2.