Seniors lead Rebels past Comets

Published 11:45 pm Friday, January 18, 2013

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — The senior class of the Riverside girls soccer team have traveled from one end of the spectrum to another over the course of their careers.

For example, when senior Mary Gurley began her soccer career as a seventh grader at the school, the program had never posted a winning season or finished even as high as second in district play.

But as the Rebels put the finishing touches on an 8-0 district victory over St. Charles Tuesday, they also wrapped up a perfect first round of district play — a district that Riverside currently stands atop of as defending champion.

“After six years, we finally get to be on top,” said Gurley, who scored two goals in the win. “I know if we (seniors) leave Riverside without winning district year, we’d really regret it.”

Kaitlyn Masters also scored two goals for the Rebels, who improved to 3-0 in district play and 12-8-3 on the season.

The victory came on Riverside’s “Senior Night”. Seniors on the team scored seven of RA’s eight goals.

Masters scored the first goal of the night very early on, setting the tone for Riverside.

“We wanted to get that lead early,” said Masters. “I saw the chance to get one and I took it, and it put us ahead.”

It took Riverside a little while to push the lead to 2-0, but Caitlin Roussel’s feed to Cameron Hymel went for a close range goal and the Rebels led 2-0 with 17:42 left in the first half.

The Comets avoided a pair of near-Rebel goals — one via a nice looking save by SCC goalkeeper Julia Torres — before Taylor Terrio got a shot off from close range to make it 3-0 with 12:08 left before halftime.

Torres made another strong save and a Gurley shot went just a little high of the net before Masters made it a 4-0 game with a score right before halftime.

“I thought (Masters) played a really impressive game tonight. That might have been her best performance,” said Riverside coach Brittany St. Pierre.

Megan Stein and Kori Bourgeois each added second half goals, while Gurley knocked in two — after a number of earlier near misses that left her just shy of a score.

With leading goalscorer Jordan Duhon out of action due to an appendectomy, Gurley has been tasked with picking up much of the slack — though on a night where six different Rebels scored, the only drama her first half misses created in the end was whether the senior would get a score on her Senior Night.

She said that the biggest difference this year, one in which Riverside entered as the district favorite for perhaps the first time ever, is that the players realize that the Rebels can play at a high level when truly focused.

“We’ve always been a team that plays to the mood we’re in and the attitude we come out with,” said Gurley. “We know we can play the game really well when we’ve got the right mindset, and we’re playing with it a lot more now.”

For St. Charles, the tough loss to their local rival was the latest growing pains in a season of them — the Comets are comprised of several underclassman, many of them first year players.

Head coach Eleno Rodriguez — formerly the boys track and field coach at East St. John — returned to coaching after taking over the team at midseason.

“For some of our players, it’s their first year playing soccer,” said Rodriguez. “We’re exceptionally young. But these players come out and play with enthusiasm. They put forth a lot of effort and never quit … They just enjoy playing the game. That in itself is exciting for me to see.”

Rodriguez praised senior forward Jalynn Johnson for providing strong leadership for her teammates. He saved some praise for his goalkeeper as well — Torres’ play was a bright spot Tuesday, as she showed quick reflexes on a number of tough saves.

“She’s been tremendous for us,” said Rodriguez.

Riverside defeated Haynes (9-1-1) last Saturday, 4-1, to end Haynes’ unbeaten streak to begin the year.

.Hymel scored two goals for the Rebels, while Masters and Roussel each added another.

St. Pierre said the Haynes game represented a strong overall performance for the Rebels, and noted goalkeeper Kenzie Saucier’s effort to play a tough game through a bout with the flu.

“She wasn’t near 100 percent, but she played a great game for us. I thought she was key,” said St. Pierre.

Riverside returns to action today for a rematch with the Comets at St. Charles, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.