It isn’t always the laser-like shot that zooms past the goalkeeper and into the net that wins a girls soccer match in dramatic fashion, even one between two ranked teams.
Meredith Shipman’s rebound and subsequent bloop shot gave No. 3 Snider a 1-0 win over No. 12 Carroll on Thursday at Hefner Fields.
It was the lone goal in a defensive match made even more scoring-lite because of a smaller playing surface because of declining field conditions after two weekends of soccer festival play.
“The hardest thing for both teams, this is a very small field,” Snider coach Jim LaBorde said. “They took a lot of space away from the players. It really hindered both teams. That was the biggest crutch for both teams. That was hard playing on the small space.
“Carroll can play with anybody in the state. Take nothing away from them.”
In the battle of two teams that went to the semistate last year, the Panthers (5-1), who were runners-up the last two seasons, prevailed by surviving missed chances by the Chargers (4-2) and taking advantage of one of their own.
“They have no reason to hang their heads,” Carroll coach Rick Smith said of his team. “Like the referees said, parents and fans got their money’s worth. There were two even teams. They had their chances, and we had ours. They put one in, and we didn’t. It was a pretty even game from what I saw.
“They are an experienced team, and we are the young team. As coach LaBorde said, we are the up and comers. Well, I don’t want to be up and comers, and (the Chargers) don’t want to be up and comers. My seniors don’t want to wait to next year. Both teams played well.”
After a scoreless first half, Carroll goalkeeper Skyler Reed deflected an attempt by the Panthers’ Taylor Stevens about 10 feet in front of her that Shipman got just enough of her foot on to pop over Reed with 23:38 left.
“It was a good hard shot, and Syler got her hands up and made one save and knocked it down,” Smith said of Shipman’s goal. “It was more of a rebound, and it looked like we were right there with their girl, but she just had the inside step.”
The two teams could meet again in the semistate, if both teams advance that far in the postseason.
“That means we are both in semistate,” Smith said. “We would like another chance because it is fun to play teams like that.”
Girls golf
LEO 182, SOUTH ADAMS 233, SOUTHERN WELLS 259: The Lions took the first four spots at home.
Emily Barker’s 41 earned medalist honors.
Boys soccer
LAKEWOOD PARK 5, WEST NOBLE 1: Austin Altimus scored three goals for the host Panthers. Altimus scored one in the first half and two in the second to help Lakewood Park (5-0-1) remain unbeaten.
EASTSIDE 2, WESTVIEW 1: Bryce Yoder had 15 saves as the visiting Blazers held off the Warriors. Eastside’s goals came from Chase Rayle and Brian Crowl.
Girls soccer
NORTHROP 1, WARSAW 0: Amy Williams scored the lone goal in the Bruins’ home win. The two teams were tied after a scoreless first half until Williams’ goal.
Tennis
NORWELL 3, COLUMBIA CITY 2: The Knights improved to 8-0 with a slim home win over the Eagles. After cruising in the first set, Norwell’s No. 2 doubles team of Tanner Bowen and Brandon Taylor had to work a little harder in the second, but still won 6-1, 7-5.
SOUTH ADAMS 3, LEO 2: A tough win at No. 3 singles by Scott Hoeppner helped the Starfires past the host Lions.
Hoeppner beat Nick SanGiucomo 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
Volleyball
HUNTINGTON NORTH 3, NORTH SIDE 2: The host Vikings got their second win of the season with a win over the Redskins, 13-25, 25-23, 25-7, 20-25, 15-7. Este Stoffell had 13 kills and Alexis Wygant added 11 kills.
