STANTON DEFEATS SANDALWOOD ON SENIOR NIGHT
FABRIZIO GOWDY | DECEMBER 14, 2020 | SPORTS
Stanton girls soccer defeated a Sandalwood team that had won three straight Monday, getting a 3-1 Senior Night win.
From the opening kick, Stanton had the edge in terms of ball possession. Unsurprisingly, it was the Blue Devils struck first, with junior mid Victoria Quintero scoring from the left side of the box early in the seventh minute. Quintero's goal was made possible by a pair of effective passes by sophomore back Tatum Register and freshman forward Courtney Brown. Register played a nice ball down the right sideline, leading Brown to chase it into the corner and play a perfect cross into the box for Quintero to knock into the net.
The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute thanks to a phenomenal goal by senior mid Alissa Katsaras. Working from the right corner of the 18-yard box with a well-positioned Sandalwood defense, Katsaras's seemingly improbable shot sailed diagonally across the box before hitting the inside of the left post and bouncing in for a goal.
Stanton continued to control the game as the first half wore down, with seniors leading the way. Senior mid and four year varsity player Julia Granert nearly scored on a long free kick and had another would-be goal called back by an offside call. Senior keeper Kaidyn Gonzales kept the Saints scoreless with an outstretched save in the 31st minute; the game remained 2-0 at the half.
Despite continuing to lose the possession battle, it was the Saints who got on the board in the 53rd minute. Senior mid and Sandalwood captain Daighon Lipson sent a powerful free kick from 25 yards out rocketing into the top left corner, cutting the Saints' deficit in half.
With most of the second half left to play, Sandalwood was within striking distance. However, the equalizing goal proved elusive as the time remaining dwindled and Stanton maintained its lead.
Key to the Blue Devils' success was their effective passing game and a number of excellent one-on-one efforts, which kept the Saints on the defensive for much of the half. Courtney Brown, who had an assist on Stanton's first goal, put the game away in the 75th minute. Brown chipped the ball over Sandalwood keeper Briggitte Schimitges and tapped it in for the score.
Sandalwood came in looking to get to .500 after a 2-6 start, but now falls to 5-7 and moves on to play at home Thursday against undefeated Fleming Island High School. Stanton gets to 3-2-3 and above .500 for the first time this season. The Blue Devils’ next match, their final game before Winter Break, is at Ponte Vedra High School on Thursday.