Youth/High School Soccer
Downingtown West claws back from early deficit to draw Strath Haven
In a battle of two state champions that had a Community Shield feel to it, both Strath Haven and Downingtown West opened their seasons with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night in an entertaining end-to-end match.
Strath Haven, which returned many of the leaders of the team that captured the PIAA Class 3A state title last fall, grabbed an early lead when Tessa Dignazio took advantage of a collision between the Downingtown West goalkeeper and defender and used her pace to get onto the ball and kick it into an empty net. Downingtown West, which won the PIAA Class 4A state title last fall, graduated 16 players and have dealt with injuries to other key starters but after weathering an early storm from the hosts attacking with direct play and pace were able to find a way back.
After some halftime adjustments, the Whippets were on the front foot pressing for a counter attack that eventually came thanks to the efforts of captain Ava Reddy, who spun through the defense and hit a line drive into the back of the net.
Both teams had chances to find a winner both in regulation and overtime but the game ended much the way it was played with the teams trading blows but neither delivering a knockout punch.
“We graduated 16 seniors, and we lost two additional starters to injury,” Whippets head coach Meghan Brogan said. “We are clearly rebuilding… We’ve been moving people around, trying to figure out what’s going to work for us, and yes (the goal) happened so early but they were able to battle back. They didn’t back down. They worked hard, and that, to us, is pretty impressive.”
As one of the few returning regulars from last year’s team, Reddy has taken on an even larger leadership role in the squad this season, her last before heading to Wake Forest next fall.
“I still see the same fight in us as I do last year, even it’s just such a different group of girls,” Reddy said. “We got together three weeks ago today, and I just feel like already the improvement that I’ve seen from day one to now is just amazing.”
Downingtown West visits Owen J. Roberts for a 11 a.m. match Saturday while Strath Haven visits Conestoga on Tuesday.
