Gators, California play to 1-1 tie
California's Devan Peterman (8) tries to take the ball away from Geibel's Bailey McIntyre (24) Tuesday during their game at California Area High School.
California's Devan Peterman (8) takes control of the ball for Geibel's James Ewing (14) during their game Tuesday at California Area High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Geibel’s James Ewing (14) heads the ball while being covered by California’s Jordan Jacobs (18) Tuesday during their game at California Area High School.
Geibel's Bailey McIntyre (24) and California's Hunter Watkins (19) battle for the ball near midfield during their game at California Area High School Tuesday.
COAL CENTER — Geibel Catholic and California each scored first half goals and then played 60 minutes of defense in a 1-1 deadlock before a small but vocal crowd on Tuesday.
California’s Devan Peterman had his team’s only two direct shots on goal in the first half, both on free kicks. But, Peterman buried the first opportunity on a perfect kick from about 20 yards out 5:45 into the game.
It looked like that score would hold up at halftime after California goalkeeper Jake Columbus stopped a point blank header by James Ewing off a corner kick from Matt Mammarella midway through the half.
But with time running out, Geibel Catholic’s Bailey McIntyre took a long feed and shot the ball off Columbus, kept on coming and was able to get the rebound past Columbus with 1:02 left in the half.
Columbus made six first half saves, while the Gators’ defense kept the ball away from goalkeeper Kyle Toth for the most part. Columbus ended the game with 13 saves, while Toth turned away the only two direct opportunities by the Trojans.
The teams kept the ball away from the box through most of the second half and the two 10 minute overtime periods.
On defense, Geibel’s Matt Mammarella, Patrick Teach, and James Ewing shut down most of the Trojans’ charges throughout the game.
Geibel Catholic (2-0-2, 4-1-2) had a pair of solid opportunities to score with 5:38 and 5:19 left to play in regulation on two corner kicks. But, California (1-2-1, 2-3-1) blocked both attempts out of the box.
In the first overtime, Mammarella’s corner kick was blocked away from the goal area with 5:19 left and Peterman’s free kick with 3:42 left sailed wide.
The best opportunity for either team came on a Geibel corner kick with 44 seconds left in the second overtime period. But the Trojans’ Danielle Koehler blocked a direct shot in front of the net and neither team threatened thereafter.
Along with Koehler, Kailyn Clancy and Katharina Pankratz turned in stellar defensive performances alongside Hunter Watkins, and D.J. Miller.
California coach Scott Peterman said the three girls on his team aren’t shy about playing against the boys.
“They play harder against the boys than they do against the girls and want to prove a point.”
Peterman said Geibel Catholic, “has good strikers and midfielders. We set our defense to contest their shots. But the problem for years at California has been not being able to finish on a play and capitalize.”
Geibel Catholic is low in numbers and coach Mike Grant said McIntyre is among several team members who are playing with injuries.
“I’m happy with our play defensively,” Grant said. “That’s something we worked on in practice. We dominated the game but we can’t finish. That’s been our problem all season and we’ll continue to work on it.”