Handley Girls Net Late Win

Posted: May 13, 2016
By ROB NIEDZWIECKI
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — With neither team able to take control in a scoreless second half and the Handley Bowl scoreboard reading single-digit minutes, James Wood girls’ soccer coach Jim Carden had every reason to believe the Colonels and Judges would go to overtime, just like they did when they last met on April 27.

But on a day in which Handley was more motivated than at any other point this year for several reasons, the Judges prevented the extra session with extra effort.

On senior night, Handley senior midfielder Rachel Levinson freed herself up from a group of three James Wood defenders and grounded a shot into the net with about two minutes left to give the Judges a dramatic 2-1 win over the Colonels.

In addition to giving Handley’s nine seniors a win in their final regular season home game, Levinson’s shot avenged that overtime loss to James Wood and gave them a 2-1 lead in their season series. Most importantly, it clinched the No. 1 seed for the Judges (11-3-1, 6-1 Northwestern District) in the Conference 21 West tournament that begins next week.

“There was a lot of emotion in the locker room before the game, which I think really hyped us up,” Levinson said. “It was great to get the game-winner, especially on senior night. It put us first in the conference tournament. This game meant a lot for multiple reasons, so it’s one of those games I won’t forget.”

The Colonels (7-6-1, 3-2-1) had the services of area goal-scoring leader Emily Denton (30 goals) despite the fact that she had been carted off the field against Sherando on Tuesday with a right foot injury. Denton helped set up James Wood’s first goal and nearly scored on a shot in the second half.

Levinson almost scored the game-winner on a long-range shot five minutes before the tie-breaking goal. James Wood goalkeeper Claire Beccaccio got caught out of position when she tried to scoop up a ball at the edge of the right side of the box but accidentally deflected it into traffic outside of the box. The ball eventually got played into the middle of the field, and Levinson’s attempt rolled just wide.

But Levinson — who assisted senior forward Olivia DeArment for a goal five minutes into the game — used some impressive footwork on her game-winner after taking a long pass along the ground up the middle from senior midfielder Katie Nerangis.

Levinson drove at the group of Colonel defenders, then made a nice cut inside to free herself for her shot. “The ball was bouncing around, and luckily, I got a good shot off,” said Levinson, who added that she doesn’t think she’s ever had a game-winning goal so late in the game for Handley before.

Judges coach John Lynch said luck really doesn’t play a role in Levinson’s performance. Levinson was a second team all-region selection last year who tied for the team lead with nine goals, and she’s tied for the team lead with six this year.

“She’s very gifted and very smart with her decisions,” Lynch said. “She’s confident with the ball and knows what to do with the ball, and she had a nice finish.”

Lynch said he couldn’t have been prouder of his team — which outshot Wood 8-4 — for winning a game that meant so much to the program.

“We talked about being in the driver’s seat, and you always want to be in a place where you can control your own destiny,” Lynch said. “We wanted the No. 1 seed, and we accomplished our goal. If we finish out the last two games with wins, it will be the best regular season we’ve had [in school history]. If we win the last two games, we also win the BRYSA Cup and the district, which are goals for us.”

Though Carden would have liked the win, he’ll take the determination his team showed. James Wood tied the game in the 17th minute when Katelyn High kicked in a rebound of a Katie Padgett shot. Denton played the initial ball into the center of the box.

“The effort was unbelievable,” Carden said. “I told them they have nothing to hang their head about. The ball just didn’t bounce our way. Give Handley credit, because they did what they had to do. We’re so close together, and I thought we were going to overtime again.”

The fact that Denton was on the field Thursday might not be unbelievable, but it was impressive. Denton said a Sherando player stepped on her foot on Tuesday, and X-rays revealed some soft tissue damage and a bone bruise. Denton was on crutches on Wednesday. Denton clearly wasn’t as explosive as she usually is and after reinjuring her foot late in the first half she was noticeably struggling to move in the second half.

But she set up the Colonels’ goal, and in the second half she nearly beat Amanda Kesler (three saves) on a shot after a nice flick from her back right leg to her left foot. She almost set up another High goal with a cross to her in the second half.

“I have a strong sense of responsibility to my team, and I want to give them everything I have,” Denton said. “If I endure a little more pain to give them something, I’ll do that for my team.”

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