By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three games into the 2021 season and Jeremiah Bergan’s Greece Athena girls’ soccer team has established one thing if nothing else: opponents will appreciate any offense they produce.
The Trojans posted their third shutout of the season Thursday night with a 1-nil victory over visiting Pittsford Sutherland.
“That one goes to our defenders and our center midfielders who basically kept them out of the net the whole game,” Bergan said.
Starting with junior center back Gabrielle Pelychaty and continuing with center midfielders Larissa Johnston and eighth grader Ella Perkins, the Trojans form a wall in front of eighth-grade keeper Emilee Montagliano.
VIEW MORE SCOTT CORDARO PHOTOS HERE.
“We have definitely been taught by coach that shifting is key,” Pelychaty said of the Trojans ability to move as a single unit on the pitch. “We all have very good communication.”
Athena opened the season last week with a victory over Penfield by an identical 1-0 score. The Patriots have averaged three goals per game in their other four contests, all wins. Sutherland entered Thursday’s contest scoring two goals apiece in their previous two outings.
“We went forward with numbers,” Sutherland head coach Adam Palumbo commented. “We just couldn’t put it in the back of the net which was unfortunate. I thought we played really strong offensively and defensively tonight.”
Teams can move the ball in counter attack situations, but the Trojans retreat well and get organized in the final 25 yards of the field.
Bergan credited the influence of assistant coach Paul Cialone on his team’s defensive mindset.
“These girls, if anything know how to play defense really well. That’s our building block.”
And then there is Wrianna Hudson.
The sophomore forward provides an effective complement to the Trojans’ defense. She forces opposing defenses to compensate and frequently over-commit to neutralize her. The 6-foot-1 forward set up the only goal of the night when she led Julie Welling for a left-footed strike late in the first half.
“She can get past many defenders,” Welling said of her teammate. “I try to look for the open space around me, so she can pass it to me.”
Hudson checked back to a clearing and took possession in Athena’s defensive end. She turned and advanced the ball 25 yards up field before sending a pass along the right wing. Welling took the pass in stride and cut back before going opposite side netting.
“She looked and played a nice through-ball,” Welling said of the sequence. “She played a good ball.”
37’ Julie Welling takes the lead from Wrianna Hudson in stride, cuts back and gives @AthenaHigh a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/FgklgJbpiS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 9, 2021
Hudson has scored three of Athena’s seven goals thus far on the season and assisted on two others. She created a handful of other scoring opportunities throughout Thursday’s game.
“I thought we did an excellent job of going forward and knowing where she was,” Palumbo said of Hudson.
That’s the dilemma opponents face. When pushing the ball forward, you have to keep in mind where Hudson is on the field. Trying to mark her one-on-one can only have limited success. Opposing defenses need to be organized and commit at least two defenders to stopping the sophomore.
HALFTIME HIGHLIGHTS: Wrianna Hudson creates an opportunity for Isabella Astudillo. Moran Pochtar makes the save. pic.twitter.com/sCnYfJ4WXE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 9, 2021
“She’s that good that when we’re in the offensive third you have to wonder do I go forward? Or do I stay back so I don’t get countered?” Palumbo continued. “You got to do it all the time. It’s a lot of pressure. Trying to stop her is very difficult. She’s athletic. She’s fast. She’s great on the ball. She doesn’t need much space to get off the shot. She can take you with speed. She’s a dangerous player for sure.”
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Welling’s goal was her second of the season to go along with two assists.
Montagliano made nine saves for the clean sheet. Sutherland’s Moran Pochtar stopped five shots.
HALFTIME HIGHLIGHTS: Second – chance opportunity for Allie Finkbeiner is stopped by Emilee Montagliano. pic.twitter.com/ztZx8mfwqE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 9, 2021
Athena plays at Rush-Henrietta on Saturday while Sutherland hosts Brighton.
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