ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wrianna Hudson’s golden goal in the second overtime was the difference as the Greece Athena girls’ soccer team defeated host Aquinas, 1-0 in non-league action, Monday.
Hudson converted a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box as the Trojans rebounded from a loss Monday night to win for the third time in four games.
“The goalie was in the middle,” Hudson explained. “I just thought I was close enough to her that if I just aimed for the corner, that side netting, it could go in. Thankfully, it did.”
Teammate Ellie Lombardo drew the penalty when she intercepted a clearing attempt and volleyed a shot that caromed off the hand of an Aquinas defender.
93’ Wrianna Hudson converts the free kick. @AthenaHigh 1 Aquinas 0 pic.twitter.com/hddNf9tb2q
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 5, 2022
“We were so close to getting a PK,” Hudson said.
The goal was Hudson’s team-leading 21st of the year and came after a scene that is becoming all too familiar for the junior forward who recently committed to Florida State University for her college career. The Aquinas defense shadowed Hudson throughout the contest with one player along the side of the Athena star and another player or two from the Li’l Irish defense not far away.
“You get used to it to the point where you expect somebody to be behind that other person every single time. If I go past somebody, I already know there’s always somebody else there.”
Aquinas defenders Mya Kotsch, Talia Norton and Bridget Palmer surrounded Hudson throughout the match. The trio forced bad-angled shots and rushed attempts.
“I like it because it’s challenging,” Hudson said of the defenses she faces. “It’s really a challenge. I’m not always going to score. As you can tell, I got those taken away from me a lot. When you do get that goal, it’s really rewarding.”
The contest pitted a pair of Section V’s premier scorers in Hudson and Aquinas senior Emily Silverstein who has 13 goals on the season. Athena’s defense gave the Li’l Irish senior her fair share of attention throughout the match.
Athena keeper Emilee Montagliano made a half-dozen saves including a sliding stop late in regulation when the ninth-grader aggressively left her line to block an attempt from Silverstein. The shutout was Montagliano’s fourth of the season.
Fantastic stop from Emilee Montagliano to@preserve the tie. Heading to overtime: @AthenaHigh 0 @aqgvs 0 pic.twitter.com/sYcF6adck9
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 5, 2022
Hudson’s older sister, Waniya, currently plays for the University of Notre Dame and helped the Fighting Irish to an NCAA Tournament appearance last season. Wrianna’s decision to take a different path than her sister came down to one factor.
“It’s so cold there,” she said smiling. “It’s just freezing. I went to one of her games and I was in two sweatshirts and a coat. It’s a great school, though.”
As for having the decision behind her.
“It feels so relieving. The whole college process is a lot.”
Leave a Reply