Cardinals advance to girls soccer rematch with top ranked Good Counsel, 4-0

Gabby Goddette tallied twice to the lead the Cardinals into the semifinals of the WCAC soccer championships Thurday.

On a picture perfect fall afternoon, Bishop Ireton played a picture perfect game to overwhelm 5th seeded St Mary’s Ryken, 4-0, in the quarterfinals of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference’s championship girls soccer in Alexandria.

Coach Gino Leon’s squad dominated the game, with nearly 20 shots on net in the contest and held an 8-1 advantage on corner kicks. The Knights did not record a shot on goal until the second minute of the second half of play. Despite the advantage, Ryken hung tough. The Cardinals Gabby Goddette scored the first of 2 goals she would get in the contest with 34:21 remaining. St Mary’s Ryken would hold the host team off the board for the remainder of the half until a near perfect corner kick found Natalia Barrow in the box where she sent a rocket into the corner with :10 remaining for a 2-0 lead.

Karina Azar pushed the lead to 3-0 with 35:42 remaining in the game and Goddette added her second marker of the day in the 11th minute of play in the final half to set Ireton up at 4-0.

Leon liberally substituted at that point and the Cardinals played out the contest to advance to the semifinals on Thursday in Olney, Maryland, where the top-seeded Good Counsel awaits. The Falcons overcame Paul VI Tuesday night 2-0 to advance. The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to the championship on Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown/Boyds, Maryland for a 6pm start.

The Good Counsel/Bishop Ireton winner will face the winner of the Holy Cross/St Johns game also set on Thursday at St Johns. Holy Cross upset the third seeded Bishop O’Connell while the Cadets dumped Elizabeth Seton. Admission for the championship is $10, but is good for the 6pm girls game and the 8pm boys game.