Arlington High Girls' Soccer Ties Concord-Carlisle

The Concord-Carlisle High School's girls' varsity soccer team earned a 3-3 tie against Arlington High School Friday afternoon at Doug White Memorial Field, coming back from a 3-2 in the final 30 seconds of the game.  

Sophomore Lucy Fell assisted sophomore Andrea O'Brien's tying goal against Arlington's junior goalie Hannah Howe-Lubowich. 

"I think it was a great moment for all the girls to learn what is possible when everybody together increases intensity and just doesn't let up," C-C coach Nancy Slocum said. "I knew we could do it. Today we produced."

The Patriots struck first in the match as senior captain Posie Holmes assisted sophomore Maila Kodas in the 28^th minute. Kodas shot past Howe-Lubowich to give C-C a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Arlington junior Rebecca Robinson broke past a Patriots defender and freshman goal-keeper Abbey Ojemann, scoring on an open net to tie the game at 1-1.

"We knew number 17 (Robinson) was super fast," Slocum said. "I think Abbey made a good decision coming out and on a different day she would have stopped the play. Today her timing was just a little off and instead of smothering the ball, Robinson got by her."

The Patriots struck again at 18:40 when freshman Hannah Deignan assisted Kodas for her second goal of the match. Kodas' shot to the far left side of the net soared above goalie Howe-Lubowich's reach to give C-C a 2-1 lead. 

Arlington junior Colleen Kane tied up the match with 20 seconds left in the first half. Ojemann pounced on a shot, but the ball sprayed loose and Kane scored, tying the game at 2-2.

"On the second goal, Abbey did a great job. She came out, she got the ball, but she couldn't get the handle on it, couldn't quite get up and get that ball," Slocum said. "

Arlington regained the lead 12 minutes into the second half when senior Alexandra Farris scored on a penalty kick against C-C's other freshman goal-keeper, Angela DeBruzzi.

 "They're both excellent goal-keepers," Slocum said. "They come with a lot of different strengths, it's important that they both gain experience and learn from those situations."

 As the clock ticked down, the Spy Ponders seemed primed to take the match. But with two minutes left of the clock, senior Holmes' narrowly missed goal reenergized the Patriots, pushing them forward for the tying goal.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, Fell passed to O'Brien and she scored the equalizer to tie the match at 3-3.   

Patriot's players and fans were ecstatic as the whistle blew to signal the end of the game.

"I think that was a team that on a different day might have had a different result; we might have beaten Arlington," coach Slocum said. "Got to respect Arlington, they did a great job, but I think that there were lull's in the game where we lacked that intensity. The girls know that and I think it's a good lesson for them."

The Lady Spy Ponders will face Tyngsborough High School at home on Tuesday, September 21, at 4 p.m.