Sep 15, 2009 3 min read

Connellsville picked up a 2-0 win over Laurel Highlands in Section 6-AAA section play Monday at Laurel Highlands. Lacie Rosensteel scored two-second half goals for the Lady Falcons (2-0, 3-2) after a sluggish first half.

“I told Laurel Highlands coach Al Dubois they deserved a better fate,” Connellsville coach Jeff Puskar said. “I think they outplayed us at times in the first half and we were lucky they didn’t have the lead at halftime.”

“We did a lot better in the second half. We scored a couple of goals and got a great effort from our forwards. It was a much better team effort in the second half.”

Keeper Ashley Fratto’s play helped slow the Fillies in the first half. LH outshot the Lady Falcons in the first half, 10-6.

Dubois was very pleased with the effort of his girls, but said they just couldn’t find a way to finish.

“The girls gave 150 percent tonight,” Dubois said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup.”

“They played good ball, but couldn’t find a way to get it into the net tonight.”

Dubois was especially pleased at the effort of goalie Laura Wilson. “Laura is a senior and works very hard in the goal. She picked a couple off the crossbar tonight. She is very aggressive. We’re real pleased with her effort tonight.”

Going into the second half, the Lady Falcons made a few adjustments that paid off in a couple of scores according to Puskar. “I had some young girls playing in the back the first half that were looking a little tentative,” he said. “I told them to loosen up and just play ball in the second half. I think we took away their midfield a little better, which I felt gave us the advantage.”

That strategy finally paid off at the 23:13 mark of the second half, when Rosensteel took a pass from Ally Panzella and headed the ball into the goal for the Lady Falcons first score.

The Fillies (1-4) charged back and pushed the back quickly up the field. They were able to get behind Fratto, but two Falcon defenders backed her up turning away the Fillies best scoring opportunity.

“I think my girls made a lot of good runs in the first and second half,” DuBois said. “I felt they competed very well with Connellsville tonight.”

“I think we are going to do well this year. The program is growing and the girls are totally committed to making this program a success.”

Connellsville got their final goal at the 6:43 mark when Rosensteel picked up another pass from Panzella.

“This is a good win for us because Laurel Highlands and Uniontown have really improved their game this year and I think coach Al is doing a great job with his girls,” Puskar said.