Naz Stitches Together A Win
10/27/2009



October 1, 2009

After their win over the Northstar Christian Crusaders, Nazareth Laser fans might mistake their coach, Bill McKee, for a seamstress. With four starters on the bench due to injury and illness, McKee was required to stitch together a winning lineup. Judging by the results, McKee knows how to use needle and thread.

Freshman Anna Brado tallied twice while assisting on three others, and Savannah Tucker recorded her first career shutout as the Blue and Gold downed Northstar, 7-0 in Private-Parochial League action at Grace and Truth Park.

Naz sprinted to a 4-0 halftime lead. Brado scored in the first minute. Biannca Bullard and Emma Stappenback combined and found Brado open on the right side of the box for the goal.  One minute later, Janine Swanson corralled a loose ball in the midfield and advanced it to Amanda Mietus who led Bullard into the open for the two-goal advantage. After an own goal, Mietus recorded the first tally of her Nazareth varsity career. Brado assisted on the play.

After halftime, Naz picked up where they left off. Brado took a pass from Milagro Hernandez and let fly with a laser just under the cross bar. Twenty minutes later Hannah Howell took a pass from Brado and finished the play.  Howell had another chance to score moments later, but the junior generously passed to Stappenback. Crusader goalie, Amy Sharn, made one of her 30 saves for the day on the play. Hernandez closed the scoring in the game’s 74th minute. Fresh off her promotion from JV, Hernandez took a pass from Stappenback and beat Sharn.

Melissa Ercoli, Haley Swanson, Sara Hart-Predmore, Brianna Pettinaro, and Lauren Kelly gave the Northstar offense no chance to get started.

Tucker made one save for the shutout. The junior made a successful adjustment from her usual forward spot. 

Starters Emily Kelly, Harley Cleary, Maggie Bates, and Megan Kane all spent the game on the bench - Kelly suffering with bronchitis, Bates and Cleary with ankle injuries, and Kane with a neck injury.

Nazareth improves to 6-3 with the win. The Blue and Gold had 49 shots on goal.

Paul Gotham
Pickin' Splinters