Winslow held off Medomak Valley girls’ soccer team late in the second half to win the KVAC championship, 3-2, on Oct. 23 in Augusta. Winslow jumped out to a 2-0 lead on back-to-back Raider goals a minute apart mid-way through the first period. Arian Komlangngam converted a Kaylee Constable shot, and Jordy Mallett scored the second goal.
Winslow continued their trademark physical defense in the second half. Julie Ennamorati was shoved from behind while jumping for a header and went down hard, and then sat out the remainder of the game on the bench. She had received a minor concussion in the Oak Hill game, but was cleared to play in the game. When the Panthers met Winslow earlier in the season, they lost Danielle Dyer for the season with a concussion.
Winslow keeper Beth Fisher stopped early second half shots from Ennamorati and Rachel Lee, before the Panthers scored on their fifth shot of the half. Taylor Keefe collected a cross from Ennamorati on the right wing and drilled an uncontested shot to the back of the net from about 18 yards out.
Fisher stopped a header from Maia Snow and a shot from Kasey Benner to preserve the Raider lead. Winslow met the challenge with a third goal to lead 3-1. The Panthers scrambled back, but Vose was stopped by Fisher.
A scramble in front of Winslow’s net came up empty. With less than 15 minutes to play, Winslow unleashed a flurry of shots, but Rachel Keefe and her defense held firm. Defender Mallory Conary left the game with an injury and that was the last assault the Raiders could muster in the Panthers’ defensive end.
Medomak’s Roxanne Jelenfy was stopped by Fisher. The Panthers pulled within one with 56 seconds to play. Jelenfy took a corner kick that bounced from Panther to Panther before Kasey Benner diverted it into the net to make it a 3-2 game. Alanna Vose and Snow picked up assists on the play.
Medomak worked hard in the Raiders’ defensive end in the final minute of play, but were unable to get a shot off, as Winslow defenders effectively worked the clock by kicking the ball over the sideline.
Winslow held a 19-11 advantage in shots, with most of Medomak’s efforts coming in the second half. Keefe made 14 saves for the Panthers and Fisher 11 for the Raiders.
“We didn’t play our best soccer. We had to overcome our nervousness,” coach Owen Campbell said of her Lady Panthers’ big game jitters. “Winslow is used to being here, we are not,” Campbell added of playing in a championship game. “I was much more pleased with the second half. The second half showed our heart and we played more our game,” Campbell added.
