See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Kellie O’Neil wasn’t going to be kept off the board a second time.
The St. Edmund junior said she was frustrated when she had an apparent goal off a rebound taken away when she was ruled off sides less than 10 minutes into the second half. O’Neil got another chance shortly afterwards, when she controlled an Anfisia Gordeev corner kick in the box.
This one she had to put in.
“I wanted to score a goal,” O’Neil said. “I knew we could do it. It’s eventually going to happen.”
She kicked the ball behind her with her heal, turned and tapped it in to the right post off the leg of Bishop Kearney goalkeeper Tina D’Angelo to give St. Edmund a two-goal lead in the 56th minute.
The score proved to be the winner in the Eagles’ 2–1 win over Kearney in Brooklyn-Queens Division II girl’s soccer on Wednesday at the Verrazano Narrows Complex. O’Neil’s teammates weren’t surprised she bounced back quickly from the negated goal.
“Kellie always keeps going,” said senior defender Kelly Doyle. “She doesn’t let little slip-ups get her down. She’s very determined.”
The win was an important one for the defending diocesan champion Eagles. It marked the first time in the 10-year history of the program it beat Kearney. The Tigers moved down this year after two seasons in Division I, and are a threat, along with St. John’s Prep, to St. Edmund’s reign.
“It’s a good rivalry,” said St. Edmund head coach Cathy Blundell. “It’s a great way to open the season, head to head contact like that.”
Sophomore Lauren Barone got St. Edmund on the board in the 45th minute. She won a 50/50 ball at midfield, dribbled up the left sideline and scored to the far post to make it 1-0.
Kearney got back in the game when Eagles keeper Dena Cronen was whistled for having the ball in her hands outside the box. Kaitlyn Byrne scored on the ensuing free kick from the top of the box to cut the St. Edmund lead to 2–1 in the 63rd minute.
It was the best chance the Tigers managed all game as Doyle, Taylor Draxdorf and the rest of the St. Edmund defense was able to stifle many of Kearney’s runs to goal.
“We tried to keep it a shutout,” Doyle said. “We tried to keep it there, but they are a good team.”
Kearney’s defense on the other hand was hurt by injuries. Sweeper Christina Heyer left the game late in the first half with back pain and fellow defender Anella DiCostanzo severely hurt her ankle just after halftime. St. Edmund took advantage with two goals.
“They scored right after,” Kearney coach Charlie Candela said. “Unfortunately there was a breakdown.”
Despite the loss, Candela said his team is looking forward to the challenge of competing in the new division after two tough seasons.
“I told them we are going to do better than we did last year,” Candela said. “They are looking forward.”