By PAUL GOTHAM
MACEDON, N.Y. — Emily Silverstein hit the crossbar on a pair of free kicks and sent another just wide of frame.
The Aquinas junior didn’t miss when given an opportunity in overtime.
Silverstein connected from 35 yards out in the final seconds of the first overtime, and the Li’l Irish went on to defeat Palmyra-Macedon (No. 4 NYSSWA Class B), 2-1 in non-league action.
“The first two they were kinda in divots, so it was harder to hit them correctly,” Silverstein explained. “I kept hitting the ground a little and they went too high. I was closer on the last one, so I had to keep my body over the ball.”
Silverstein’s goal capped a rally that saw Aquinas (4-5-3) erase a deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation to stay undefeated in its past four games.
“We know we’re never out of the game,” Aquinas head coach Adam Schwartz stated. “That’s hard to find in a team. They’ve come back more than once. It speaks to their character.”
The challenge was to get Silverstein untracked in the second half, and Schwartz moved his leading scorer to midfield for the final 40 minutes.
Rocket from Emily Silverstein gives @aqgvs a 2-1 lead heading into the second overtime. pic.twitter.com/Nm1fsefCO3
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2021
“Opponents are starting to key on her,” Schwartz said of his player. “If we play her forward, they’re going to put two defenders on her and not let her touch the ball.
“The idea is to play her in the midfield and that way when she receives the ball, she’s always already facing the goal. If she can beat one player, it’s a shot.”
Silverstein responded with a goal from 35 yards out to level the match.
Aquinas carried that momentum into overtime.
Emily Silverstein AGAIN off the bar. pic.twitter.com/KyU4arNMtr
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2021
“Every time we score a goal, we all realize we’re still in this,” Silverstein noted. “We’re ready to go. We start playing harder which we probably should from the start.”
“A lot of times with the momentum changing is doing some of the dirty work, winning 50-50 balls in the middle of the park,” Schwartz said. “You get a little confidence.”
Schwartz noted the play of Amaris Watts influencing the outcome of the game.
“She can cover so much space so quickly,” Schwartz said of the 6-foot senior forward. “Winning head balls in the air. In the first half, that was the problem. We let too many bounce. Our commitment was to that in the second half. Amaris obviously did a brilliant job with that.”
Maya Ikewood gave Pal-Mac (10-1-0) the lead with 29:54 remaining in the contest.
51’ Maya Ikewood starts the scoring for @palmacsports pic.twitter.com/Sgg6zLrbzZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2021
The Red Raiders had not allowed a goal since September 3rd, a stretch that covered eight games. Clare Boesel made 11 saves for the Red Raiders on Saturday.
Ikewood’s goal was the sophomore’s 14th of the season. Megan Stever assisted on the play.
Silverstein’s markers were her ninth and 10th. Mya Kotsch assisted on the first goal.
Kate Sproul stopped 10 shots for Aquinas. The game was the third straight that Aquinas has played in overtime.
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