Seton, St. John's Playoff Game Postponed Due to Darkness

Elizabeth Seton (9-6-2) and its five Bowie Seniors live to kick another day…or at least another ten minutes.

In the first round of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) playoffs, Seton and St. John's College High School got through an 80-minute regulation and even one ten-minute overtime period before the referee decided to postpone the game to tomorrow due to darkness.

The game finished 0-0 before being postponed, but it was a well played match between two very good defensive sides.

In the first half, there was only a hand full of chances for both teams.  Very late in the half, Seton had a chance on a free kick near the goal line that was lofted in, but St. John's was able to clear the ball from danger.

The game seemed to open up a bit more in the second half.  St. John's seemed to be in possession more, while Seton looked to be organized defensively, looking to catch St. John's on the counter-attack.  With this approach, Seton seemed to create more opportunities.

The first opportunity was a mazy run by junior Kellie Smith who on a counter-attack seemed to weave back and forth through SJC defenders before pushing her shot just wide of the far post.

Soon after, Seton created the best chance of the game.  A ball was crossed in from the right, SJC goalkeeper Kristen Glad dove to her right to collect it, but it went past her to a wide-open Seton player who put the ball over the bar.

St. John's feeling like they dodged a bullet responded swiftly playing in their forward before senior center-back Aly Lee made an unbelievable sliding tackle to stop the play, so goalkeeper Jamie Abel could clean up the rest.

The Lee slide-tackle diffused St. John's best opportunity of the day, but SJC only created about two or three credible scoring chances the entire game.  The main reason for SJC's lack of chances was Seton's back four, which is anchored by Lee and three Bowie products: Rebekah Hayes, Cara Hamel and Allie Reilly. 

Hayes was very solid on the right side of the back four winning tackles and providing good distribution, while Reilly took care of the left flank showing a strong left foot as well as impeccable decision making.

Next to Lee in the center of defense was Hamel who during the duration of the game picked up a few knocks to her knee, but she valiantly continued to battle away to keep the zero.

In the first overtime, Hamel took one more knock to her knee.  Already wearing a knee brace, she had to be taken off and replaced by her long-time teammate and Bowie native Danielle Frontin who saw time in the midfield during the first half.

But after a minute, Hamel hobbled back onto the pitch like a true warrior for the remainder of the first overtime barely able to jog.  Her reentry into the game was reminded the crowd of how important the game truly was to her.

Shortly after Hamel's reentry, the first overtime ended.  The referee met with the coaches from both sides and decided to postpone the second overtime and potential penalty-kick shootout until Wednesday afternoon at 3:30.