6/1/01
Tigers survive scare, win in OT
by Kevin Tresolini - Staff Reporter
MILL CREEK - Its state girls soccer semifinal wasn't very old Thusday when Alexis I. duPont High already had a strong feeling it was the better side.
Problem was, Wilmington Christian had scored an early goal and A.I.'s best player, perennial All-Stater Kate [sic] Mazzio, had gone to the bench with a back injury.
The Tigers did have time on their side, and 16 minutes into the second half they had Mazzio back on the field, too.
Soon after, Mazzio scored the equalizer on 30-yard rip after a solo dash from midfield. That ultimately sent the game into overtime, where Erin Tully's header off Jessica Natalie's corner kick settled the issue 2 - 1 in A.I.'s favor.
Tully's 110th-minute, sudden death strike sent A.I. into its sixth straight title game at 8p.m. Saturday at the University of Delaware mini-stadium. The Tigers, whose unspectacular 13 - 6 record and No. 13 seed can be partially attributed to a difficult schedule, outshot previously unbeaten Wilmington Christian 21 - 9.
"They scored early, but we had a whole game to play," said Mazzio, one ice bag on an injured left thigh and another balanced on her tingling shoulder. "I thought we dominated after that."
Top-seeded Wilmington Christian (18 - 1) stunned A.I. by scoring in the third minute after a corner kick came out to Sarah Raniszewski at the top right edge of the penalty area. She slid a pass to her left that found Alexis Frederick, whose finish was assertive and on the mark.
But A.I. poured it on. Natalie's blast off the crossbar was one of several excellent scoring chances before Mazzio left in the 30th minute.
A.I. sweeper Danielle Nourie's big foot rejected several WCS offensive endeavors, and the Tigers limited dangerous striker Danae Chambers' touches as well.
Mazzio returned in the 56th minute. Two minutes later the game was tied.
"She's just instant energy," A.I. coach Scott Emert said of the senior midfielder. "That was such an emotional lift when she came back."