It was rainy. It was cold. It was not pretty. But the girls got it done.
The Plum Mustangs came into this first round match up with an overall record of 14-3, while the Lady Hawks boasted a 15-2-1 record.
From the start of the game, both teams looked uncomfortable. For the first ten minutes, there were no shots on goal or scoring chances.
Plum senior forward Aaliyah Odom was a big story going into the game. She scored 25 goals in 17 games this season.
She tried to stretch the field with her blazing speed, but Bethel’s defense used their physicality to slow her down.
In the first half, BP dominated possession. At times they played keep away from Odom, who got noticeably frustrated as the game went along.
The latter part of the first half was more offensive, with chances by both teams. The first shot on goal of the game came from Bethel Park defender Lindsay Boss, who swung a free kick right to the goalie from 40 yards away in the 25′.
Plum’s first shot came five minutes later on a dribbler from midfielder Ashley Amato. Aside from that shot and a few corner kicks, Plum was very quiet in the first half.
It looked as though Plum was going to escape the first half tied until Bethel Park striker Tatianna Ruzzini smoothly weaved around the defender and goalie, placing a roller into the back of the net.
That goal came with three minutes left in the first half, and it was a huge momentum boost, said head coach John Gentile. “To get that right before the half, it deflated [Plum] a bit, and we carried that throughout the rest of the game.”
Ruzzini said this about scoring the first and only goal. “It was pretty important. My team relies on me to do that, being the only striker.”
The second half was pretty even, caliber wise. Both teams played solid defense and had some opportunities to score.
Bethel never took their foot off the gas pedal, constantly pushing up field. By doing this, Plum could not get anything going.
The Hawks’ defense was superb, only allowing three shots on goal the entire game, one in the second half.
In the end, Bethel Park pulled out the 1-0 shutout.
They will play Gateway in WPIAL Quarterfinals at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Elizabeth Forward.
