BEAR — Caravel scored twice in three minutes in the first half, and that was all of the offense in a 2-0 win over Padua in a girls soccer matchup May 1 at Bob Peoples Stadium.
The Pandas — who have six freshmen and 10 sophomores on the roster — had their share of possession through much of the first half, playing the ball-control game and preventing the Bucs from getting their offense going. Caravel did have a corner kick in the 14th minute, but a header off a set piece went wide, and Pandas goalkeeper Ellie Semmel made a save on a low line-drive free kick in the 17th.
Anaya Price opened the scoring in the 22nd. A shot rolled through the 18-yard box toward Semmel, but Price caught up to the ball before it reached the keeper and re-directed it into an open net.
Three minutes later, the Buccaneers found themselves with another corner kick, and this time they converted. This time, Sydney Hayden took the inbounds pass and sent it toward the 6-yard box, and Hayden Haynes found the ball in traffic and beat Semmel.
That would be enough for the Bucs, who had allowed just two goals in 10 games entering this one. The Pandas had a good look in the 28th, but a chip shot went high. Ten minutes into the second half, Padua stole a Caravel pass at the top of the 18-yard box, but the Pandas were not able to generate a shot.
The Pandas’ best chance came in the 66th. Genevieve Horner sent a ball on net, but Bucs keeper Taylor Fitzgerald dove to her right to make the stop.
Caravel had a few chances to add to their lead, but a few shots just missed the net, or the Padua defense was there to make a stop. Semmel’s best save of the night came in the closing minutes when she came out to challenge an onrushing a Bucs attacker inside the 18, and she slid and blocked a hard shot.
The Buccaneers had a 7-2 advantage in shots, and they earned seven corner kicks to none for the Pandas. Caravel (10-0-1) is home on May 6 against Appoquinimink at 6:15 p.m.
The Pandas (5-6) play their final three regular-season games at Abessinio Stadium, beginning May 6 at 8 p.m. against Middletown.
Photos by Mike Lang.
