ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A late-arriving bus may have contributed to a sluggish start.
Once its collective stride was found, not much else slowed the Batavia girls’ soccer team, Thursday night.
Anna Varland scored three goals, and Batavia erased an early deficit before going on to beat host Greece Olympia, 4-2 in Monroe County Division IV action.
“We struggled a little in the first half,” the junior forward said. “We weren’t passing great to feet. We needed to clean up our touches and make crisper passes. That sorta thing. I think that helped.”
Trailing 1-nil, Varland ran on to a pass from teammate Ella Shamp and connected on the equalizer with less four minutes remaining in the first half.
“We were able to push the ball up and Ella was able to get it and just do a tight little touch off the side of her foot and she just hit it right around the center defender,” Varland explained. “Then it was just me and the goalie.”
Less than nine minutes of game time later, Varland gave Batavia the lead when Kylee Brennan made a run along the left wing and fed Varland just inside the 18-yard box.
45’ Kylee Brennan makes a run along the wing and finds Anna Varland for her second goal of the match and a 2-1 @BCSD_BlueDevils lead. pic.twitter.com/uonZeSRKVX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 9, 2022
“I was making sure that I was staying with her, so that she sees me,” Varland said of the play. “Seeing if I could make myself an option or if another player is able to.”
Olympia converted a penalty kick to level the game, but Varland helped provide Batavia’s response. Pressure earned the Blue Devils a corner kick from the right flag that Varland lofted into the goal mouth. When Olympia cleared the ball, Varland was there for a second service, and Lillian Emerson buried a shot that caromed off the bar and over the line.
68’ Lillian Emerson takes advantage of a second-chance opportunity from a corner to give @BCSD_BlueDevils a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/dAUIdyMzlN
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 9, 2022
Varland closed the scoring with a successful penalty kick.
“Being down and then scoring a goal felt refreshing. We were just able to get momentum. We were ready from there. We wanted to win. That’s what pushed us.”
Olympia’s Hannah Roxstrom started the scoring in the 18th minute on the first corner kick opportunity of the game.
First corner kick opportunity of the night, and Hannah Roxstrom converts. @Oly_Athletics 1 Batavia 0 pic.twitter.com/3oeeF1wIuE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 8, 2022
Roxstrom also drew the penalty that resulted in the Spartans chance from 12 yards out. Kyleigh Bathe delivered on the chance.
Varland has four goals and two assists on the season.
Batavia improved to 2-0-1. The Blue Devils host Greece Odyssey next Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start.
Olympia (2-1-0) plays at Odyssey next Friday.
Leave a Reply