WEBSTER, N.Y. — Ellie Ockrin wasn’t sure of the possibility at first contact. The Webster Schroeder junior’s left-footed strike from the right flag had the loft she wanted, but it was going to take seeing the ball go into the net to believe it.
“I didn’t expect it, but it felt really good,” Ockrin said. “I’ve been working curving it in with my left foot on the back post. It was exactly what we’ve been working on. I feel like I didn’t really know until it was in the back of the net. It was like, ‘oh, I’m going to score.’ Then it was there. ‘Oh yeah, let’s go!'”
Ockrin’s Olimpico – a goal scored directly off a corner kick – was all the offense in Friday’s tightly-contested Monroe County Division II matchup as Schroeder edged Churchville-Chili, 1-0.
The goal, in the 37th minute, came as a result of the contest’s first corner-kick situation.
“We’ve been working on Ellie bending that ball in,” head coach Kent Brown mentioned. “It’s something we’ve been working on since July. As soon as she hit it, everybody on the bench saw the bend on it and they’re like ‘that might go.’ It took a hard turn right when it got to the keeper. It worked. It’s a great goal for Ellie. She’s had a tremendous season.”
37’ OLIMPICO! Ellie Ockrin gives @Schroedersoccer a 1-nil lead pic.twitter.com/pgnR0p8TXK
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 16, 2022
The goal, a rarity in its form, was the first of the season for Ockrin, Schroeder’s goalkeeper as a ninth-grader when current keeper Megan Fry was injured. Ockrin currently plays outside back.
“It’s how the game of soccer works; you get the chance and you put it in,” she said. “I have the same steps every time. I always take a big deep breath before I go.”
The win was the fifth straight for Schroeder (6-1-1) which has allowed just one goal on the season.
“We’re doing really well combining with each other in the middle,” Ockrin said. “The communication and the environment that we’ve created is really strong.”
Schroeder had chances in the second half to add to its lead. The Warriors put pressure on Churchville keeper, Emily McCane with Alyssa Doody and Morgan Tara getting the best of the opportunities.
Morgan Tara came this close to adding to the lead. pic.twitter.com/0hj3maT5bC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 17, 2022
“We figured out that if we came down the width a little bit more, we seem to be getting better chances,” Brown said of the second half. “They’re strong in the middle. We’re strong in the middle too, so we sorta negated each other. We were able to get out wide a couple of times. We got those crosses off, but their defense was organized well enough in the middle where we never got a great look.
“We got the ball in and around the area. Then they toe-poked it or cleared it. In those areas, if we fix that stuff, we can start scoring some more goals instead of getting stuck in one-goal games.”
Churchville dropped to 5-2-0 with the loss. The Saints, winners of five straight coming into the match, were without leading scorer, Amelia Breton (5 goals).
“Churchville is pretty athletic,” Brown said. “They’re quick and always put pressure on the ball on the middle. That threw us off our game.”
Breton was injured in the first half of Monday’s contest against Hilton. The senior midfielder/forward sat out Wednesday’s win over Gates Chili as well.
Megan Fry made six saves for her seventh shutout of the season. The senior has made 56 saves on the season for a a save percentage of 98.25.
Megan Fry passes her first test of the night with the save of a shot from Jenna Northrup. pic.twitter.com/eBCPCAbuow
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 16, 2022
Schroeder hosts hosts six-time Class A champion Spencerport on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. start. The two teams played to a scoreless draw earlier this season.
Churchville plays at Webster Thomas on Tuesday.
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