By Chris Laclair
Eagle Times Sports Editor
MANCHESTER, NH — The 4th seed Stevens Lady Cardinals played what could have been their best game of the season Wednesday night, Nov. 1, against undefeated 1st seed Saint Thomas Aquinas Saints, but it wasn’t enough.
In a 1-1 game that was equally played during regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, it came down to the final penalty kick that secured a win for the Saints. With Stevens having missed a shot, it was 4-4 in penalty kicks with Saint senior Katherine Dornan holding the fate of her team in her hands with a game-winning attempt. She placed a perfect ball to the left corner of the net as sophomore goaltender Audrina Pelton had no chance to save it.
Stevens’ freshman midfielder Maddy Chambers was out of the game with an illness. As she watched her team on the live broadcast, she couldn’t help but wish she was there.
“It sucked. It was amazing to watch them play. The fight they put up; genuinely one of the best games I’ve seen them play,” said Chambers. “It just hurt being at home, not being able to be out on that field with my team, not being able to fight with them. But again, one of the best games I think we’ve played.”
Stevens started off the game with a quick corner attempt off a perfectly placed throw-in from junior Isabella Bovell. Unfortunately for the Lady Cardinals, the corner kick didn’t find any traction.
The Saints would have several shots on Pelton who was brilliant in goal during the first half, keeping her team alive thanks to her saves. Senior Caleigh Bronson riffled a shot on goal that Pelton made a jumping save, securing the rebound in the air. With 30 seconds left in the first half, Pelton came out to break up a potentially very dangerous opportunity for the Saints.
Bronson put her team ahead 1-0 on a fluke play that saw Pelton and her defenders break up a longball attempt. The ball was deflected to the left side of the box where Bronson was all alone, easily putting the ball into the empty net.
Both teams battled hard as the Saints wanted an insurance goal and the Lady Cardinals wanted the equalizer. That opportunity came for Stevens when Bovell sent a gorgeous throw in that senior Kiley Bundy placed over the top of an outstretched goalie.
Both teams would go back and forth in both 15-minute overtime periods. The only true scoring chance of overtime was a shot from senior Saint Kate Burrus that she sent over the top of the goal.
Each team had five opportunities to score with senior Lady Cardinal Maddie LaVarnway taking and scoring the first shot. Bovell got her shot into the goal off the hands of the outstretched goalie. Junior Neveah LeBlanc would shoot wide right on the third attempt for Stevens. Junior Brianna Marsh would send a textbook ball to the inside left post. Bundy hit the back of the net but unfortunately for Stevens, Dornan would end the game with the next goal.
Watching LeBlanc walk back to her team after her miss was heartbreaking for anyone to watch. She was the heart and soul of the defense for the Lady Cardinals all season, playing with a shoulder brace so she could play through injury.
“Before the shot, I was very scared and after, I have never been more sad in my life,” said LeBlanc. “This was my last game with a couple of my friends I’ve had for years. My goal for next year is to have some redemption and make it to the finals.”
Bundy, who provided leadership all season, reflected after the game on her emotions as she scored the game tying goal.
“It felt amazing to score but we all came in having a good feeling about the game,” she said. “We all worked hard and pushed our limits, and we went into overtime against the beatable 1st seed.”
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