By Ted Waddell
MONTICELLO — October 14, 2005 – Cupcakes take the cake in soccer.
In Tuesday’s non-league girls’ soccer match between the host Monticello Lady Panthers and the Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Panthers defeated the Lady Bulldogs 3-0.
After neither team scored in the first half, Monticello recorded three goals in the second 40 minutes of play. Darian Niforatos headed the soccer ball into the back of the SW goal net in, Alex Gonzalez scored on an indirect kick and Jennifer Kavanaugh kicked the ball into the net after her initial shot on goal was deflected by Lady Bulldog goalie Morgan Edwards.
Monticello goalkeeper Jackalyn Litwak made seven saves. Edwards recorded 19 saves and Kristen Niemann, who took over for Edwards in the second half, had three saves.
With the victory, Monticello improved to 4-6 on the season. SW fell to 2-7 this autumn.
“We missed our opportunities again,” lamented SW Coach Mike Ellmauer. “We were down there, had our chances, but just couldn’t capitalize on them.”
Ellmauer couldn’t pin down any particular reason for this season’s lackluster showing.
“We’re playing better than a two and seven team,” he said. “We’re having some bad luck, we can’t score on the opportunities that are presented to us… we get a little bit frustrated.”
As Ellmauer walked off the field loaded down with a bag stuffed full of soccer balls, his coach’s clipboard and a sack of rain gear, he pondered the situation and declined an offer to help carry the load.
“It’s stress control… it makes me feel better,” he said.
Monticello Coach Paul David said it was “a good game, very competitive right down to the end.”
“Both teams played hard, and hustled to get the ball,” he added.
After the match, the Lady Panthers and the Lady Bulldogs broke out the cupcakes. For the Monties, captain Kristen Van Hage, a 17-year-old senior stopper, baked up a box of cupcakes in honor of David’s 37th birthday.
“I bake before every game so that after the game, there’s always something for everybody to have,” Van Hage said.
Over on the SW bench, the team shared the cupcakes baked by Laura Stabbert in celebration of teammate’s Lauren Ellison’s birthday.