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SW and T-V girls tie in OT after early incorrect call

Fit to be tied

Richard Ross - Reporter/Photographer
Posted 4/1/21

Sulliven West 1

Tri-Valley 1

LAKE HUNTINGTON -- Let's be clear. Officiating is an integral part of the game. But invariably there are questionable calls which can affect the outcome. That …

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SW and T-V girls tie in OT after early incorrect call

Fit to be tied

Posted

Sulliven West 1

Tri-Valley 1

LAKE HUNTINGTON -- Let's be clear. Officiating is an integral part of the game. But invariably there are questionable calls which can affect the outcome. That said, unless a particular play is subject to instant replay, such as the ones challenged by coaches in the NFL, the judgement of an official is final, even if a subsequent consultation and review assess it to be incorrect.

For the Sullivan West and Tri-Valley girls who played to an intense 1-1 overtime tie, the question now is moot as to whether a call by an official that waved off an early Sullivan West goal by Anna Bernas was contrary to the rules of the game. With 30:48 remaining on the clock in the first period, a call was made which granted SW an indirect kick which Bernas sent flying towards the goal.

Whether there was a Tri-Valley handball or not that warranted the call turns out to be irrelevant. For in either case, the ball which went off the hands of T-V keeper Jordan Costa and into the net and it should have counted. An indirect kick has to touch a player's hand which it did. So direct or indirect, the score should have registered 1-0 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs. This was confirmed by the other official on the opposite side of the field who chose not to discuss the matter with the official who waved off the goal.

Later, in consultation with Sullivan West coach Diana Hahn, the officials agreed that it should have counted but could not reverse the earlier judgment. In this bizarre season, the main agenda is to give the kids a chance to play. It is likely few will remember how many wins or losses were tallied when all is said and done.

The score remained 0-0 at the break. But with less than five minutes gone by in the second Bernas took a feed from Laura Smith that whizzed by Costa for the 1-0 lead. But less than a minute later Tri-Valley's Clare Verbert found Celest Ibarra who sent one flying over the head of SW keeper Riley Ernst to tie the game. The teams then played the remaining 35:12 plus two ten-minute overtime periods without an additional goal resulting in the tie. It was the second consecutive double overtime game for Sullivan West. They lost the prior match 2-1 in OT to Livingston Manor. In girls soccer overtime is a mandatory pair of ten-minute periods.

Sullivan West had 19 shots with 16 on goal. They garnered four corner kicks. Tri-Valley mustered 11 shots with seven on goal. They had one corner kick.

Tri-Valley coach Kayla Connolly observed, “It's great to have all the kids back playing.” Several were missing due to Spring Break including standout Rebecca Musa.

“I am happy with the way the girls played today,” Connolly added. “We were able to get some practices outside on our field and that made a huge difference from our previous games. I'm excited for this season and that the seniors get to play. Celest Ibarra is one of our captains. She sent a nice arcing ball over the keeper for our goal. A lot of girls stepped up today. I am pleased with the way they are playing together and supporting each other.”

Sullivan West Coach Diana Hahn talked about the frustration of having a goal taken away. “The girls worked so hard and played hard until the very end. To have a goal taken away due to lack of knowledge of the game by the official was a hard pill to swallow for the girls and for me as their coach. It being the first goal, it took the wind out of our sails for a bit but we were not lacking opportunities to put the game away. We simply were not able to finish our shots.

“Emily Bair had a nice breakaway down the middle of the field that I was hoping would seal the game for us,” said Hahn. “She's a senior filling in for a position that she doesn't normally play and doing an excellent job. Normally she's a stopper or an outside defender but with players missing she had to step into a new role this season and doesn't usually find herself in a position for a breakaway. That's a lot of pressure and something we haven't physically or mentally challenged yet.

“We are missing quite a few players leaving us to have to utilize our younger players. They have a lot of heart and play hard which favors us, but they are young and are still learning a great deal about the game and how to play at the varsity level,” Hahn continued. “Senior Laura Smith was able to get an assist by poking the ball out to Anna Bernas for a goal. It was what we needed after the take-back goal, but we let down our guard allowing Tri-Valley to quickly counter.”

Sullivan West will host John S. Burke Catholic on April 5 and then travel to Eldred on April 6. Tri-Valley will host S.S. Seward on April 6.

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