GHS Girls Soccer Can’t Settle Things with Eagles

GHS senior Anna Shaheen gets ready to kick the ball at Cottone Field in Wethersfield on Sept. 30. The Guardians and Eagles settled to a 1-1 tie. 

Glastonbury girls’ soccer came to a stalemate with Wethersfield during a physical game on Cottone Field at Wethersfield High School on Sept. 30, settling to a 1-1 tie.
           
For 79 minutes and 52 seconds, the Guardians held the host Eagles without a goal, but in the closing seconds of the game Glastonbury was called for a penalty in front of their own goal. 
           
Wethersfield’s Kayla Ward capitalized on the controversial call by hammering home the penalty shot with eight second remaining as the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) rivals finished deadlocked
           
Glastonbury head coach Mark Landers said the official told him that one of his players pulled Ward down in front of the goal, prompting the penalty. 
           
“We can’t spend too much time on this one, we have to turn the page,” added Landers. “We were a little confused about some of the defensive stuff we’ve been working on and that confusion showed a lot today on the field. We have to learn and get better from it.”
           
Senior Riley Carroll provided the offensive for the Guardians, scoring a goal in the 25th minute.  
           
Each team came up empty of several second half chances and it looked like Carroll’s goal would be the game-winner until the late penalty.
           
Landers stated the team started to find some combinations on offense, which prompted shots on goal, yet attacks weren’t consistent enough throughout the entire game.  
           
Both teams entered the conference clash without a loss and both left with identical records of 5-0-2.
           
Goalie Marla Radikas a half dozen saves in the tie, including three shots she dove to deflect away.  
           
“She’s been outstanding,” Landers said of Radikas. “Both of our ties have basically come on the last plays of the game and you learn lessons from these games.”
           
Earlier in the week, the Guardians defeated Avon 3-0 on Sept. 27, which was the team’s third straight shutout and fourth shutout overall. 
           
​Glastonbury next welcomes Lewis Mills to GHS this Friday, Oct. 7 for a game at 3:45