Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga scored twice in the opening 5 1/2 minutes of the game, and NEB countered with two goals in the first nine minutes of the second half. Then, the two teams battled scoreless for another 51 minutes in a 2-2 tie here Friday afternoon in non-league girls soccer action.
“Typical of our season, we flew out of the gates scoring twice early in the game, and carried that lead into the half,” said Tioga coach Jim Walsh.
“NEB scored two breakaway goals early in the second half, and from that point on they took control,” noted Walsh. “The rest of the game was pure survival for us. We faced a slew of shots and corner kicks, and our offensive attack was thwarted by several offsides calls, and a tough NEB defense.
“However, unlike our last game, we defended with enough resiliency to keep (NEB) from scoring and salvaged a tie,” added Walsh.
Junior Destini Sweet scored 90 seconds into the game to give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead, then junior Jenna Smolinksy, off an assist from senior Mackenzie Macumber, scored four minutes later to make it 2-0.
The Lady Panther defense tightened up, and Tioga led 2-0 at the halftime intermission.
Keirra Thoman scored 2 1/2 minutes into the second half to trim the NEB deficit to 2-1, and Maisie Neuber scored with 30:56 remaining in regulation to tie the game.
NEB outshot Tioga, 19-7, and had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior Eve Wood had 10 saves in net for the Lady Tigers, and sophomore Abigail Foley added seven.
“Back-up goalie Eve Wood made some key saves in the game, and shut out the Panthers during the first half and two overtime periods.
Tioga wraps up the 2019 campaign with a 4-9-1 record.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga’s Mackenzie Macumber. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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