By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Danielle Strauf just wanted to be in position.
The Pittsford Mendon senior couldn’t have been in a better spot.
Strauf redirected a corner kick in the 68th minute to cap a second-half rally as the Pittsford Mendon girls’ soccer team defeated crosstown rival Pittsford Sutherland, 2-1.
“I feel like I’m always in the wrong spot, but I had a good feeling,” Strauf said. “I was just really hoping it was going to go through everyone, and it happened.”
The 5-foot-10 midfielder started wide along the right flank and made a run to the far post in time to meet Lauren DiMarzo’s service from the opposite side.
68’ @mendonsoccer converts the corner kick. Dani Strauf on the redirect. pic.twitter.com/O8RZXLsRmk
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 18, 2021
“My teammates and I were laughing about it before the game. We’re trying this thing where we visualize us doing stuff in the game. I tried my best to visualize getting a header. It’s kinda crazy that it happened.”
Strauf’s goal came less than 11 minutes after she set up teammate Bridget Merkel for the equalizer.
Trailing 1-0, Strauf worked a combination with Elena Barr in the middle third of the field before sending a diagonal ball along the left wing to Merkel who finished inside the far post.
Bridget Merkel takes a Dani Strauf pass in stride and finishes far post to level the match at 1 with 23:41 remaining. pic.twitter.com/LH6mseZho7
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 18, 2021
Ava Allen gave Sutherland the lead seconds before the end of the first half. Allen stepped in front of a clearing attempt and finished in the right side netting for the 1-nil Knights lead after 40 minutes of play.
“We knew that we were possessing a lot of the game in the first half,” Strauf said of the attitude coming out of the break. “We weren’t being aggressive enough on offense. We knew that we just needed that last piece to get us in the final third of the field. We knew we would convert once we got up there.”
Ava Allen intercepts a clearing and goes opposite side netting as the first half closes to give @VarKnightSoccer a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/LsglDA4lew
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 18, 2021
The win was the second in three games for Mendon (4-2-0) which fell in overtime to Penfield earlier in the week.
“We’re kind of a second-half team, right now,” Strauf said. “We’re trying to get both halves. I’m just so happy that everyone on the team came together in the second half. Not one person was down and we got it done.
Leah Shaffer denies Ava Allen’s free kick. pic.twitter.com/WxdH8LWFlG
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 18, 2021
“We talk about it all the time. Every single person, whether on the field or on the bench everyone is always positive all the time. We don’t give up until the final horn.”
Mendon hosts Brockport on Tuesday.
Sutherland fell to 2-4-0 and will play at Canandaigua on Tuesday.
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