Greenfield-Central’s Paige McCarley had a goal in Wednesday’s win over Pendleton Heights. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)
GREENFIELD — The end result may have been closer than the Cougars expected.
But for the first time since 2020, the Greenfield-Central girls soccer team left the pitch with a victory over Pendleton Heights.
Behind three second-half goals, Greenfield-Central (2-3, 2-1) defeated the Arabians (0-6, 0-1) 3-2 at home on Wednesday night.
“It’s huge. Especially because we’ve had some heartbreakers against them the past few years,” Greenfield-Central head coach Brandon Steeno said. “This one was great for the girls’ confidence, big time.”
A sloppy, back-and-forth first half in which neither team could gain control or muster good scoring chances led to a tie at halftime.
Pendleton Heights fired off six shots in the opening frame, and the Cougars sent four balls towards the net. But none found the back of the netting.
Halftime adjustments by the Cougars led to different second-half results.
After a jump save on a high Greenfield-Central shot was tipped over the net by Pendleton Heights goalie Priscilla Barajas at the 35-minute mark of the second half, the Cougars beat her on a similar shot just a minute later.
Greenfield-Central midfielder Chloe Gardner sidestepped an Arabian defender to get into the box and fired a strike past Barajas for the go-ahead goal.
That was the beginning of an eight-minute stretch that saw the Cougars fire off five good shots and score three goals.
With 28:48 remaining in the half, a Pendleton Heights penalty on a tackle of G-C’s Chaney Brown gave the Cougars a free kick.
A cross from outside the right side of the box by Tessa Joyner to the Arabians’ back post found the foot of Carly Means and she knocked it by Barajas for the two-goal lead.
A minute later, Paige McCarley had a shot hit the top post, and then a shot saved by a jumping Barajas.
The save led to a G-C corner and this time McCarley delivered, scoring off of the corner kick.
“They started to trust each other more,” Steeno said. “We talked about just finding the next pass and we started to do that, and then that’s how we found space.”
Two late goals by the Arabians over four minutes made the closing minutes closer, and more stressful than the Cougars expected.
With 13 minutes remaining, Pendleton Heights forward Lyza DeShong beat G-C goalie Jessica Merritt, and a few minutes later an Annika Long header off of an Arabians corner kick cut the lead to one.
With two starters, senior Addison Bennett and freshman Ainsley Robinson, out of the game dealing with leg cramps, a new-look Cougars lineup did just enough over the closing 10 minutes.
An Arabians offensive push and breakaway on net was called offsides in the closing seconds to secure the Cougars their second HHC win.
“We had some people in spots where they aren’t normally used to. We didn’t get a chance to talk through things and got put in some uncomfortable spots, but nobody complained and they all did what we asked them,” Steeno said. “It’s a win, and we’ll take it.”
The Cougars face HHC opponent Delta next Wednesday at home at 7 p.m.
