Anxiety, Despair, Desperation and Joy/ Varsity Girls Soccer Finishes Regular Season League Play

Last Saturday the VGS team traveled to LWA to compete against their league rivals at the opponents Homecoming. It was the last home game for two exceptional seniors on the LWA team, Pammie Bonaparth and Domanique Robinson. These two excellent and classy athletes have been a dominant force in the PSAA Girls Soccer League over the last three years and were the leaders of last year's championship team. Making the game even more important, from the Portledge pespective, was the fact that Portledge had to win in order to avoid elimination from the PSAA playoffs. Thus, on this bright sunny day with the pitch a bit slick from the rain of the night before, the stage was set for an incredible afternoon of "football".

How Did the Game Unfold?

Throwing caution to the wind, Varsity Girls Soccer coach Mike Coope had the Portledge side configured in a very offensive formation. Having replaced a defender with speedy freshman point forward Alex DeVivo, Coope was going to try and outscore his talented opponents. The question was, would this daring gamble pay off? The game began with the LWA side pressing forward and putting the undermanned Portledge defense under great pressure. Sophomore goalie Chelsea Estevez was called upon several times during the early going to stop some legitimate chances on the Portledge net. Estevez, however, held strong through the early onslaught, and before long the game was going back and forth from end to end. Mid way through the opening half Sophomore half Monique Kelly corralled a ball in the center of the field. Seeing she had space, Kelly began carrying the "rock" forward towards the LWA penalty area. Confused by the overloaded offense, the LWA defenders let Kelly proceed close to the goal before someone finally left their mark to confront the wily orchestrator. Kelly chose the exact perfect moment to slip a deft ball through, to the now unmarked DeVivo, who quickly deposited it right into the back of the "ol' onion bag" giving Portledge a 1-0 lead and a momentary feeling of relief. The closing minutes of the half changed the entire mood though, as the tough LWA team registered back to back goals. The first came from a remarkable piece of dribbling and shooting on the the part of the dominant striker in the league, Domanique Robinson. After receiving the ball some 30 yards out, Robinson eluded two Portledge defenders before blasting one into the Lady Panther net. It was a definite statement to the Portledge girls that this was going to be a battle right to the end. Just before the halftime whistle things got a bit more bleak when the LWA star Pammie Bonaparth took over the game. The exceptional midfielder, whose older sister plays on the NCAA champion University of North Carolina Ladies Soccer team, put on a display of amazing skill as she weaved her way in and out of at least three Portledge players down the right sideline. When she eventually broke into the clear and unleashed a right footed rocket into the Portledge net, the Lady Panthers took on a look of gloom as they saw their season drifting away. The girls heard some encouraging words from their coaches though, and were soon back on the pitch and ready to challenge for another 40 minutes.

The Lady Panthers came out strong in the second stanza and before long equaled the score at 2. The goal came from a free kick along the right touch line that Mo Kelly accurately put to the far post. Waiting there was midfielder Addie Reilly, who adroitly headed the ball back across the net. Once again DeVivo was in the right spot at the right time as she headed Reilly's headed cross into the LWA net to even the game. At the 56 minute mark Portledge surged to a 3-2 lead
from a corner kick opportunity. Kelly, who was putting the ball right where she wanted to all day, sent a perfect corner across the LWA net and Sophomore Chelsea Caracciolo was there to finish it off. All the Portledge fans wondered if the Lady Panthers could hold their advantage over the last twenty minutes of play. Eight minutes later, in the 64th minute, the question was answered with a thunderous NO. The incredible Pammie Bonaparth let the Panthers have it again, as she buried a free kick from about 20 yards out into the side netting. The goal tied the score, and if the game were end this way, Portledge would be eliminated from the PSAA playoffs. So the entire season was riding on the last 12 minutes of play. Things looked bleak as the game entered its second to last 60 seconds. Then, Caracciolo made a dynamic run down the left side. Her attempted cross was deflected out by a LWA defender setting up a corner kick that almost certainly would be the last offensive opportunity for the Portledge girls. Mo Kelly took her time placing the ball and preparing herself for this last chance, knowing a good service was necessary. Kelly's kick was excellent, and it headed to the front of the LWA net. Somehow, Freshman Ashley Wade was able to find her way to Kelly's cross and knock it into the net. All of a sudden, and unbelievably, it had happened. Portledge was ahead and there was only a minute remaining. The clocked ticked down and the final whistle blew. The Lady Panthers were in the PLAYOFFS, having pulled off one of the biggest wins in the relatively short history of Portledge Varsity Girls Soccer. Congratulations girls, and good luck in the tournament. Come see the Lady Panthers as they face two strong non league opponents this week. On Wednesday @ HOME v.Poly Prep, and Friday @ HOME v.Riverdale.