It came as no surprise that today’s Liberty contest between Cinnaminson and Delran in girl’s soccer would be a close one.
It was a tightly played game from start to finish, but the Pirates upended the Bears for their fifth win of the season by a 2-1 score.
The Pirates are now 5-0-1 overall and 4-0 in the Liberty.
“I hate to sound like a coach, but one game at a time,” head coach Matt Digney said. “We know what we’re trying to do right now. We will enjoy the win tonight, but start fresh tomorrow.”
Delran opened the scoring at 35:09 of the first half when Alyssa Siemien launched a shot well over the head of an outstretched Maddie Ogden in net for a 1-0 lead.
“The experience we have on this team is good,” Digney said. “Two years ago, with this exact team pretty much, we probably would have hung our heads and it would have been a different game.”
“We have some good upperclassmen leadership. The juniors and seniors did a great job to come from behind and show some character.”
It was a back and forth affair the rest of the first half before Cinnaminson answered.
Delran had a corner kick that was played out of the box by the Pirates.
Emma Karch moved it upfield to Miranda Sackner, who did the rest against the keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
“That was pretty nice. It came from Emma and it was a nice through ball,” Sackner said.
“We have to practice more of it. They tried to hold their spot in the back and get us offsides, but it worked for us. We are good with speed and getting through people.”
The goal was Sackner’s third of the season, tying her for the team lead with Hailey Gutowski.
“It probably was the gamechanger,” Digney said. “For Delran, they played a really good first half. We had some opportunities as well.”
The equalizer came with 1:05 left before the break.
“To give up a goal with a minute to go in the first half, it hurts mentally,” Digney said. “They played a good game, Delran did, but unfortunately that goal probably was the one that broke them.”
The majority of the second half saw both teams come away with scoring chances, but nothing too dangerous.
In the defensive end, Ogden made a huge save to preserve the tie before the Pirates moved the ball across midfield.
Meredith Updike played a beautiful ball through the defense to Karch, who snuck past everyone and buried the game winner with 6:37 left in regulation.
“It was a team effort because it came from the back,” Karch said. “Meredith sent me a really good through ball. My shot was just on.”
It was Karch’s second goal of the year and her first game winner.
The Pirates host Northern Burlington on Thursday, September 29 at 3:45pm for a Liberty Division contest.
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