Local private-school girls soccer rivals got together last Monday, and it was Bishop Grimes pulling it out over Manlius-Pebble Hill in a 3-2 overtime classic.
Led by Kennedy Yearby, the Cobras took a 2-1 lead in the first half. The Trojans tied it in the late going, but in the first OT period Grimes went back out in front, and held on from there.
Yearby finished with a pair of goals, while Jordan Vaught also converted. Alex Guhin added an assist, and Ashley Morgan was superb in the net, stopping 22 of the 24 shots she faced.
Terry Netusil and Rowan Johnson scored for MPH, with Katie Blanford and Alexia Melendez-Martinez earning assists. Blanford and Sammy Appleby combined to make 19 saves.
Grimes recovered on Wednesday to beat Faith Heritage 4-1, doing most of the damage in a 3-0 first-half surge. Toni Laneve and Jillian Firenze each scored twice for the Cobras, while Guhin earned two assists and Abby Rogers got an assist, too.
A rematch with Faith two days later had nearly the same result, Grimes beating the Saints 3-1. Guhin had one goal and one assist, the Cobras pulling away in the second half as Firenze and Seanna Laneve also found the net. Ashley Morgan was active in the net, recording nine saves.
In boys action, MPH made up the rained-out Sept. 7 game with Phoenix and beat the Firebirds 5-2 for its fourth win in a row.
Gerrit Church, with a goal and two assists, led an attack where Soloman Ochieng found the net twice. Richie Medina and Jimmy Gavigan also put in goals. Kyle Fisk had both of Phoenix’s goals.
A day later, though, the Trojans ran into Tully and took a 3-0 loss to the Black Knights. Tully had a 2-0 edge by halftime and never let MPH back into the game as Jake Guy, Jeremy Caron and Sebastian Alnor earned the goals.
MPH’s girls met undefeated Tully on Saturday and put up another fierce effort in a 1-0 loss to the state-ranked Black Knights. Between them, Katie Blanford and Sammie Appleby had 16 saves, only allowing Grace Johnson’s first-half goal, which proved to be the difference in the outcome.
Bishop Grimes continued its solid start on the boys side, blanking Cato-Meridian 3-0. Nai Mayen earned one goal and one assist as the Cobras built a 2-0 halftime edge and cruised from there. David Firenze and Eisa Adam had the other goals, with Zack Underwood and Matt Hahn also scoring.
As a follow-up, on Thursday night the Cobras took out Bishop Ludden 2-0. Mike Bespiaty stopped all seven shots he faced, and Grimes saw Firenze and D.J. Carella put in the goals to fend off the Gaelic Knights’ challenge.
