The two teams played 90 minutes of soccer on Monday, finishing in a scoreless tie in double-overtime in a non-conference high school battle between the Class C and D schools.
“The kids were apprehensive about today’s game. We all agreed we played our worst match of the year against these guys down there earlier in the season,” said Richmond coach Troy Kendrick. “The girls wanted to show them they could.”
Over the next 10 minutes, Caitlin Kendrick, Abby Johnson and Anair continued putting pressure on Seagulls goalie Kaitlyn Cote. Each fired shots towards the net, but nothing on target and the score remained scoreless.
OOB (5-3-1) managed a shot on goal with less than 12 minutes remaining when Brianna Plante found room, but goalie Sydney Underhill- Tilton came out for the save.
With 10 seconds remaining, Richmond nearly scored on another attempt on a header, but the OOB defense was able to intercept the pass and clear the ball to end the half.
Richmond put seven shots on net to the Seagulls’ two, while the Bobcats held the advantage in corners, 2-0 in the first 40 minutes.
“We’ve struggled to put the ball in goal this year. It’s one thing if we’re not creating chances, but I told the girls we are doing things to make that happen and eventually a goal,” said Coach Kendrick. “We’re still waiting for that goal though.”
In the second half, the Richmond defense provided even fewer chances for OOB to put together anything offensively. With a 2-0 loss to OOB in the second game of the year, the Bobcats knew they needed to tighten up on defense.
“Those girls have really come together in the back. We graduated a bunch of defenders last year, so we’ve plugged some new people in and it’s been a work in progress, said Troy Kendrick. “Having Sydney in the back is key. Our sweeper Emma Carbone, our stopper Bry Lancaster, and Lindsie Irish and Marybeth Sloat on our sides came up big today. It was a nice team effort.”
Offensively, the Bobcats continued shooting at Cote. Anair, Johnson and Carbone all blasted shots on net, but the visiting goalie was able to turn them away while preserving the shutout.
Old Orchard’s best chance to score in the second half came when Payje Leclerc nearly snuck the ball toward the far post, but her shot went wide.
Richmond (5-3-2) followed with an opportunity of its own with under three minutes remaining in regulation. Caitlin Kendrick centered the ball from the left side, but the pass fell just out of reach for Emily Snowden to get a foot on it, and the ball rolled out of bounds for a goal kick.
In the first extra frame, Anair got the shots started, firing one at Cote from the corner. Kendrick quickly followed with a direct kick that came up empty when the junior was unable to get the ball over the wall. Carbone gathered the rebound, but her shot went over the net.
“We’ve struggled at times finishing our plays,” said Anair. “We need to find those crosses.”
The Richmond defense continued to suffocate the Seagull offense during overtime. OOB only managed one shot on the Bobcat defense.
“We’ve moved people around this year due to graduation. What’s nice is that every game we’re getting better,” said Tilton. “As long as we’re on the same page and keep working on what we do in practice and incorporate it into the game, we’ll be okay.”
By the time the second overtime was played, each team had appeared to lose a little bit of their legs, with just one shot per side in the final five minutes.
As time was winding down, Caitlin Kendrick took matters into her own hands, carrying the ball through three defenders before dribbling to the right side of the net, pulling Cote her way. But her cross to the left side went unanswered by the Bobcat offense and the game ended in a tie.
“What we’ve been doing scoring-wise today wasn’t working, so I figured I’d take the ball and see what they can do,” said the junior Kendrick. “I think our passing is getting there, but as Destiny said, we need finish off.”
“I told them I thought the results were a little unfair as we outplayed (and outshot) them,” said Coach Kendrick. “We have a lot of young girls on the team this year as we have only three seniors. I am very pleased with their super effort today.”
OOB, 0
Richmond 0, 2 OT
At Richmond
OOB — 0 0 0 0 — 0
Richmond — 0 0 0 0 — 0
Shots — Richmond 20, OOB 6.
Saves — (OOB) Kaitlyn Cote 6, (R)
Sydney Underhill-Tilton 1.
Corner kicks — Richmond 4, OOB 1.
Records — OOB 5-2-2, Richmond 5-
3-2.
Up next for Richmond — Saturday at
Vinalhaven at 11 a.m.
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