By Ashlea Prouty
MONTICELLO — September 17, 2010 — The John S. Burke Catholic High School Lady Eagles recorded a 3-1 victory over the host Monticello Panthers on Tuesday afternoon in a non-league soccer game.
Burke, which improved its record to 2-0 on the season with the win, took the lead early in the first half on a goal by Brooke Racanelli. Brianne Germaine assisted Racanelli on the play.
The second goal of the game was also scored by Burke. A pass by Tara Sullivan in front of the goal allowed Kathryn Hancharick to score late in the first half. The goal gave the Lady Eagles a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Panthers began the second half with energy and enthusiasm.
Burke was called for a penalty and Monticello (0-2) was awarded a penalty kick. Annie Purcell took the penalty kick for Monticello and scored with a beautifully placed ball into the goal cage. Purcell’s goal allowed the Lady Panthers to cut their deficit in half at 2-1.
However, the Lady Eagles were quick to increase their lead to 3-1 as Racanelli recorded her second goal of the contest.
Monticello goalkeeper Jess Stant had a solid game, making seven saves.
“She held them together,” Burke Coach Steve Douthit said of Stant. “They [Monticello] are a fairly young team and they did very well”.
Burke goalie Alicia Mulvey made 10 saves.
Coach Bill Stento is beginning his second season of guiding the Lady Panthers. He acknowledged that his team has some things to work on.
“We didn’t support each other defensively and weren’t aggressive toward the ball,” Stento said. “They controlled a lot of the game and we couldn’t match their intensity. Jess Stant really stepped up and kept us in the game by making some important saves.”
Burke and Monticello were both slated to return to the pitch yesterday afternoon. The Lady Eagles were set to host the Liberty Lady Indians in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV game. The Lady Panthers were scheduled to travel to Goshen to face the Lady Gladiators in an OCIAA Division III match.