Point Borough Girls Soccer Drops Home Opener to Monsignor Donovan 3-2

The Point Borough Girls' soccer team dropped its home opener in heartbreaking fashion to Monsignor Donovan by the score of 3-2 at the Point Pleasant Borough varsity field on Monday afternoon.

The Panthers, who fought tooth and nail to the tie the game on two separate occasions, allowed Monsignor Donovan’s Erin Ruddy to strike the game’s final tally with a little more than four minutes to go.

“The first five minutes and last five minutes of every half are the most vulnerable and the most important part of any game,” said Point Borough head coach Mike Edolo. “Our keeper Lauren Conklin made a first save initially on the ball, but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way.”

Point Borough players, who started the game very sluggishly, came alive midway through the first half, with a big assist from defenders Megan DiPietro and Kaitlin Pennypacker.

Both defenders played key roles in slowing down Monsignor Donovan after they scored the game’s first goal, eight minutes into the game.

With the Point defense finally able to control the pace, the offense was able to strike late in the first half, when Claire Baxter found Beth Van Curen on the left hash for the first equalizer.

“We didn’t find a way to create enough early on in the game,” said Edolo. “To our girls' credit, we kept fighting and found a way to score at the end of the first half and it really gave us confidence going into the second half.”

Point Borough appeared poised to take the lead early in the second half. But despite controlling the play for most of the half, the Panthers were doomed on a questionable penalty call on Niccolette Kraus. The penalty kick resulted in a goal by Amanda Gulli, which gave Monsignor Donovan the 2-1 edge.

“You have to stay calm through all of the adversity, whether it’s a bad call or trash talk you have to keep your cool,” said Edolo. “Our girls were a little rattled by the call, but we kept fighting back.”

Midway through the quarter, the Panthers continued to show fight and resiliency when sophomore Paige Synder knocked a rebound past Monsignor Donovan net minder Summer Beal to tie game at 2-2.

“Paige really stepped up for us there,” said Edolo. “A sophomore scoring a big goal, with a really great strike. We’ve seen her play well all pre-season and I think she’s really going to help us this season.”

The Panthers had one last opportunity to try and the tie the score for the third time on the afternoon, but was unable to capitalize and fell to 0-2 on the season.

“When things don’t go your way, how you respond from there is a true measure of your character,” said Edolo. “To be able to fight back get that second goal and almost get the third, shows me that our girls want it.”

Point Borough will look to get their first win of the season on Wednesday at home against Manasquan High School.