News Editor
GOSHEN — Soccer is a game usually played with eleven on a side. Especially at the high school level, that's almost a minimum: I don't think I've seen a team win using fewer than 13 players at some point. So when I heard that the Bruins would only be able to dress ten players Tuesday night, I was not especially optimistic.
Color me pleasantly surprised.
To be clear, the chain of events that led to a ten-player lineup did not end in a win. But it ended in a one-goal game, which meant that for more than 41 minutes Bethany was one stroke of luck from a tie. Several times that stroke almost came when forwards Laken Richer and Mia Graber Miller broke free of the West Noble midfield, but since West Noble had an extra player on the field compared to Bethany, they were invariably met by a defender or two just in front of the penalty area. The Bruins managed only two shots on goal; one went in.
On the other end of the field, it would have been easy to understate the importance of the defense anchored by goalkeeper Natalie Thorne and sweeper Sammy Kauffman. While it's true that Bethany surrendered more goals than it scored, one of the two tallies was deflected and the other crept between Thorne's hands and the crossbar. Natalie stands 6'1", the bar is eight feet from the ground, and a regulation ball is about nine inches in diameter.
In other words, this game was closer than a ten-player lineup would suggest.
Luck is the combination of preparation and opportunity. Especially when we can actually substitute, Bethany will be prepared for many opponents. The opportunity will come at some point.
West Noble 2, Bethany 1
- WN: Ana Herrera (9')
- WN: Benny Murillo (16')
- BC: Laken Richer (39')
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