English girls soccer rallies to defeat Classical

LYNN – In a high-scoring matchup, the English girls soccer team defeated Classical, 4-3, at Manning Field on Monday.This was a tale of two halves. Classical won the first half 3-0 ? but English won the second half 4-0. All seven goals were scored with the wind.English had three starters out and Classical lost keeper Mackenzie Coppinger to an ankle sprain during practice. The Rams’ JV keeper, Casey McNulty, was pressed into service and started her first varsity game.”Casey McNulty played a valiant game in the goal,” Rams coach Kerri Altieri said. “This was her first test under fire.”The offense for Classical in the first half could be said in two words: Brianna Capone. She had the natural hat trick – three goals in a row.”Brianna Capone had the game of her life,” Altieri said. “She was outstanding.”She started in the 4th minute with an assist to Christine Francois. The second was at the 17th minute on a cross and tip-in with the assist going to Francesca Galeazzi. The third Capone goal was in the 39th minute on a cross from the right wing by Erin Walters. English had made some changes.Coach Ed McNeil put all-league sweeper Shawna Henry into an attacking midfield slot and put Mackenzie Clark back at sweeper. He also took out keeper Lindsay Roy, who didn’t feel well, and replaced her with Karissa Burton.McNeil said, “I almost second-guessed myself by leaving Shawna Henry up front, but Mackenzie Clark was so good at sweeper that I played it out that way. This is a great win for us.”The second half was all English. The Bulldogs had the wind and with each goal they scored, their intensity grew by leaps and bounds. In the 53rd minute, Brianna Moreno beat McNulty in the Rams’ net from a scramble in front. The assist went to Marnie Biondi.Two minutes later, the Bulldogs cut the lead to one goal. Henry, the transplanted sweeper, scored on a long cross from Abbie Martocchio. They had to wait another nine minutes to tie up the game.In the 64th minute, Moreno picked off an errant clearing pass and beat the Rams keeper to the right corner. With 16 minutes to go, English was hungry for the win and Classical was trying to hang on for the tie.With eight minutes left, English was fouled about 35 yards from the Classical net. Martocchio fired the ball at the Classical net, and with the wind behind the shot, the ball went in over the keeper to give English the lead, 4-3. The game ended with no further scoring.