The Warwick High School girls soccer team turned up the heat in the second half on a cold, breezy day at Grosh Field, scoring three goals to shut out visiting Penn Manor 3-0 on October 4, 2014. It was the Warriors’ first shutout of the season.
A keeper’s shutout
“It was well deserved,” coach Chrissy Casella said on the sideline after the game. “Our keeper was working really hard. She deserves to have the shutout.”
Warwick’s goalkeeper turned away all five Penn Manor shots she faced.
A stalled first half
For much of the first half, the Warriors’ offense stalled at midfield as they struggled to connect passes. Unable to capitalize on early scoring chances, they fought hard for possession, and strong defensive play kept Penn Manor off the board. The teams went to halftime scoreless.
“We had goal opportunities in the first,” Casella said, “but we finished them in the second.”
Three goals after the break
Warwick broke through with 36:15 remaining, when a forward ran onto a long pass up the right side and buried the shot. The goal broke the ice, and the Warriors kept pushing the ball toward the net.
“That goal gave them the confidence to keep going to goal, and that gave them the opportunities,” Casella said.
The second goal came with 28:26 left. A perfectly placed centering pass found a Warwick attacker, who outran defenders and finished to make it 2-0.
Warwick sealed the win with 17:30 remaining. A junior broke away from the defense and placed another assist from the same playmaker, who finished with two assists, into the net for a 3-0 lead. She nearly added a second goal, but Penn Manor’s keeper made a diving save.
By the numbers
Warwick outshot Penn Manor 13-5 and earned the game’s only corner kick. The Warriors’ teamwork was apparent throughout, especially in the second half, as passes began to connect and the attack found space on the flanks.
An overtime thriller before it
The shutout followed an exciting overtime win over Manheim Central earlier that week. Warwick went up 1-0 at halftime on a free kick, but Central tied the game in the first minute of the second half.
“Play was pretty even,” Casella said. “Central had more goal opportunities, but possession was pretty equal.”
The game was still tied at the end of regulation, sending it into the two 10-minute sudden-victory overtime periods used in high school soccer. About five minutes into the first overtime, Warwick scored off a through ball to win 2-1.
“It was awesome,” Casella said. “I feel like we haven’t had very many wins, but the wins have been really great wins.”
Fighting back
The October 4 victory improved Warwick’s record to 6-9-1.
“We’ve had some pretty tough losses, but they continue to come back and fight each and every game,” Casella said.
Section play
Warwick plays in Section One of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, one of the most competitive girls soccer conferences in Pennsylvania. With a young roster that included freshmen and sophomores getting significant minutes, the back-to-back wins gave the Warriors momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Building confidence
A first shutout of the season is a milestone for any defense and goalkeeper, rewarding the work of the entire back line.
A rivalry close to home
Penn Manor and Warwick are both large Lancaster County schools, and their meetings across many sports draw strong interest. A convincing win over a familiar opponent gave the Warriors momentum heading into the rest of league play.
This article was originally published in October 2014.