Lewis goal lifts EHS past Lady Buccaneers

Published 2:53 pm Thursday, August 22, 2024

STAR CORRESPONDENT

JOHNSON CITY – A physical, defensive girls’ soccer match turned in the 77th minute when junior Izzy Lewis scored to give the Lady Cyclones a 2-1 victory over University High at Winged Deer Park on Tuesday.

The play started in the Cyclones’ end of the pitch when senior Hallie Powell sent a pass to midfield, where fellow senior Aubrey Meier fed Lewis outside the penalty area. Lewis turned on the speed, split two UH defenders, and put a low shot past Lady Bucs goalkeeper Harper Poston.

“It was a pretty physical game, but I thought we handled it well,” Lewis said. “I felt like I had to make up for the missed penalty kick. I tried to mix it up, but it didn’t work too well. It was a good shot but a better save.”

That missed kick came late in the first half after a red card was issued to Lady Buccaneers’ Anna Oligny for a handball on a shot in the penalty area. Lewis stepped up to the penalty kick stripe and fired a waist-high shot that Poston stopped with her right forearm.

UH opened the scoring in the 11th minute on a breakaway by Caroline Bader down the sideline. She beat EHS goalkeeper Abby Krawczyk for a 1-nil Bucs lead. The Cyclones got the equalizer in the 17th minute when a corner kick from Lewis struck the right post of the Bucs’ goal frame, allowing Vella Nave to nudge the ball over the goal line.

“Our defensive line was great; they played very disciplined,” Lady Cyclones head coach Lauren Meier said. “Our communication was good, as was our speed and anticipation. UH is a very good team, and they played well. They were very physical, which we knew coming in. I felt like it was a good game, and we made passes and found spaces to make connecting passes.”

UH was whistled for eight penalties compared to four for EHS. UH also had a red card, while EHS sophomore Maddix Morton was shown a yellow card. The first half saw UH outshoot EHS 4-2, but the second half saw the Cyclones take a 5-4 shots-on-goal advantage, including the last shot by Lewis.

EHS 2, UH 1

EHS 1 1 – 2
UH 1 0 – 1

Scoring Summary
First Half
UH – Bader (unassisted) 11:00
EHS – Nave (assist Lewis) 17:00

Second Half
EHS – Lewis (assist Meier) 77:00