Sage Hill, Oxford settle for all zeros

Bryce Alderton

With the program’s first CIF playoff berth in its four-year history

firmly in hand, the Sage Hill School girls soccer team had payback on

its mind.

But neither the host Lightning or Oxford Academy could cash in on

numerous scoring chances and the Academy League finale for both teams

ended in a scoreless tie Thursday, even after two 10-minute overtime

sessions.

The Lightning (8-6-3, 4-4-2 in the Academy League), who earned an

automatic berth into the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs by

placing third in league -- behind second-place Oxford -- fired 20

shots on goalkeeper Andrea Esposito, including three in overtime, but

couldn’t quite squeak the ball into the net. Esposito made 17 saves.

Nonetheless, Sage Hill Coach Amy Ray gave her team the day off

from practice today after what she saw Thursday.

“We played hard and physical ... and with only two subs,” Ray

said. “We wanted to win to get [Oxford] back.” The Patriots defeated

the Lightning, 1-0, earlier in the season on a penalty kick.

The Lightning were without sophomore defender Janele Shockley

(sprained arm) and senior forward Megan Curry (broken foot).

The offense didn’t miss much of a beat, with Ali McLaughlin,

Caroline Sauter and Kara Percival controlling passes from junior

sweeper Amy Werblin and midfielder Rebecca Gordon.

Midway through the second overtime period, Werblin sent a corner

kick into the six-yard box and a Sage attacker got a foot on the

ball, but Esposito corralled the shot.

“[Esposito] played great,” Ray said.

Sage goalkeeper Laura Gordon nine saves, including one with under

three minutes left in regulation when she slid head first to grab a

rolling ball off the foot of Oxford forward Barbara Cormalis.

Sage spent most of the two overtime periods in the Oxford (11-6-2,

7-2-1) zone. Freshman Emily Webb recovered a deflection and sent a

blast from 15 yards out, but Esposito knocked the ball down.

Rebecca Gordon and Werblin caught up with Cormalis -- racing along

the east sideline -- to knock the ball away, but Cormalis still drew

a corner kick.

Whitney Fountas got her head on the ensuing kick, but Laura Gordon

reached up with both hands to make the save.

The Lightning will find out their playoff opponent Monday, which

is when they resume practices in earnest.

Ray said Shockley and Curry, who were both injured in Sage’s 5-0

victory over Whitney Tuesday, will give it a go at practice next week

to determine if they will be able to play in a game.

“Curry’s [injury] is a slight crack and Janele will wrap [her arm]

and see how it feels,” Ray said.

The injuries have hardly dampened Ray’s spirits in anticipation of

show time.

“We have come so far this season,” she said. “The whole team has

figured out passes and connected. There is a great attitude on this

team. Skill-wise, we are better than in the past and it definitely

shows.”