By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
YEATESVILLE — Northside overcame a staunch Southside defense, a slick field and a 1-0 halftime deficit to grind out a 2-1 win over the Four Rivers Conference rival Seahawks on Tuesday.
Southside dominated time of possession in the first half, threatening at every turn. However, Northside goalie Cecilio Cota stood tall, only allowing one goal in the first segment.
In the second half it was all Taylor Woolard, as the forward scored both of the Panthers’ goals to lift his team to victory and a 9-2 (6-1) record.
“I came out and tried to play as hard as I could,” Woolard said. “I just got some great passes from my teammates. I couldn’t have made any goals without them.”
Woolard benefited from a lucky bounce to notch his first goal, as the ball seemingly trickled past charging Southside goalie Billy Harding and towards the foot of Woolard who obliged.
Woolard’s second goal was a work of art, as he fielded a long pass down the right side of the soccer field and booted it past Harding for the game-winning goal.
Northside coach Billy Bunn said the key to victory was that his team never got down emotionally after getting down on the scoreboard.
“We just stepped up our intensity, played a little harder and never hung our heads,” Bunn said. “We have been in close situations at halftime before, and these guys just came out and were determined that they could still win the match.”
That determination, along with using Gabe Cota in more of an offensive role, helped jolt the offense back to life in the second half.
Cota, who is asked to play many roles for the Panthers, said he doesn’t mind doing whatever he is asked to do.
“If it helps the team I’m fine with it,” Cota said. “Wherever I play, I play.”
Seahawks’ coach John Lohman said his team just didn’t rise to the occasion on defense in the later stages of the game.
“We didn’t execute on defense like we were in the first half,” Lohman said. “We gave them opportunities to play that long ball through our fullbacks, and you just can’t do that. You have to be disciplined on defense.”
While the Panthers’ came alive in the second half, the first half belonged to the Seahawks (7-4, 3-4).
Seemingly always on the verge of scoring, Southside finally got on the board when Josh Shepperd blasted a shot past Cota.
Southside’s goal was put in motion by a beautiful outlet pass which was played by Allen Hobbs near the right side of the goal. Hobbs struck a well-placed cross pass to Shepperd, who proceeded to boot the ball into the left portion of the net.
Southside had three quality attempts on goal early, one hit the post, another was stopped inches before crossing the goal line, and the other was converted by Shepherd.
“We hooked up three times the same way,” Lohman said. “One bounced off the metal, the other one we just didn’t quite get to and the goalie was able to get it before it went in the goal. Then on the third one we were able to get it the way we were supposed to. You have to be happy with the effort and a lot of the execution.”