By Fred Stabbert III
JEFFERSONVILLE — October 12, 2007 — The Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs went on the offensive Wednesday afternoon and knocked off James I. O’Neill with a 1-0 nailbiter to keep their sectional hopes alive.
In stark contrast to last month’s Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV contest against O’Neill when the Lady Bulldogs fell 9-4, this time around Sullivan West played much of the game in the O’Neill (8-5, 3-2 Division IV) end of the field and fired more than a dozen shots at goalkeeper Jessica Schneider.
“We are in a good position to make sectionals,” Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer said. “We played well and finally got a couple of bounces to go our way.”
None of the bounces were any bigger than Sarah Lander’s penalty kick midway through the first half.
With the Lady Bulldogs pressing on offense an O’Neill defender was called with a hand ball in the box, setting up a direct kick.
Lander netted the goal and that was the difference in the game.
“Sarah’s been working hard on her penalty kicks,” Ellmauer said. “We played well and are on the right track.
“Our defense – especially our back four – are doing a great job,” he said. “They are working together as a unit and not allowing any uncontested shots on goal.”
Sullivan West (5-8-1, 2-4 Division IV) must pick up two more league wins to advance to sectionals.
Next Monday, they play at Monticello in a non-league match and then take on Division IV foe Fallsburg on Wednesday afternoon in Jeffersonville.
The Lady Bulldogs’ last regular season game will be a night game versus Liberty on Monday, October 22 at the Sullivan West High School field in Lake Huntington.