VIDEO: Mustangs sweep terrific low-scoring soccer DH over Middle

Posted: January 1st 1970

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

LINWOOD – More than 171 minutes of soccer produced just two goals as host Mainland Regional High School emerged as 1-0 winners over Middle Township in each game of a boy-girl soccer doubleheader Monday evening.

David O’Donnell’s goal midway through the second half lifted the Mustang boys to victory, while a penalty kick by Savannah Jones 2 ½ minutes into the second period of extra time gave the Mainland girls the late win.

Both games were broadcast live by CapeAtlanticLive.com.

The boys game featured a fascinating dynamic in that Middle Township carved out more dangerous chances while Mainland enjoyed more of the possession.

But it was Mainland’s O’Donnell who accounted for the only goal when he beat Middle goalkeeper Miles Stafford to a bouncing ball near the top of the penalty area and chipped a perfectly-weighted shot over Stafford and into the net 18 minutes into the second half.

Middle Township created numerous opportunities through freshman striker Angelo Panzini, one of which came on a save by Mainland’s Brandon Dionicio early in the second half shortly after Panzini’s jersey was grabbed from behind by a beaten Mainland defender.

Dionicio later made a diving stop at the left post on a blast by Middle’s Giulherme Candido from 15 yards.

Middle (7-4-1), which played without two starters due to injury, had a five-game winning streak snapped with the loss. Mainland (9-3-1) further secured its standing as the first-place team in the Cape-Atlantic National Conference. The Mustangs are 9-0-1 in conference play.

“I thought our effort was fantastic,” Middle coach Scott Kurkowski said. “The kids played really hard, especially with having some guys out, and I think it says a lot that we came to their field and created a lot of chances. We just couldn’t put one in.”

In the girls game, Mainland controlled most of the possession in the opening 40 minutes but an organized and disciplined Middle defense, led by Riley Odom, Parker Milstead, Carmen O’Hara and McKenna Oliver, limited Mustang chances. Middle eventually dropped one of its forwards into the midfield and evened out the possession game in the second half as Izzy Miller made a tremendous impact on the proceedings from the center defensive midfield position after playing as a forward early in the contest.

Some of Middle’s players thought they had the breakthrough goal late in the second half following a free kick, but Mainland goalkeeper Riley Townsend scooped the ball away before it entirely crossed the goal line.

Middle goalkeeper McKenzie Palek made a wonderful save on a blast by Mainland’s Emma Tenaglia in the first period of extra time to keep the game scoreless.

Mainland (7-3), however, earned the penalty kick chance in the second period of extra time when Palek, in a diving effort to knock the ball away from a charging Tenaglia, fouled the Mainland forward as she was going to goal. Jones calmly deposited the ensuing spot kick into the bottom right corner for the Mainland victory.

Middle fell to 4-8 with the loss.

“The girls put in a tremendous effort,” Scarpa said. “The last time we played Mainland – they’re a very strong team – they took it to us 2-0 at home, so I was very proud of the girls for us to come here and put in the effort they did tonight to make this a very competitive game.

“To lose in the second overtime is tough. I know the girls had a lot emotionally invested in this game. But I think we’re really growing as a team.”