KIPP girls settle for scoreless tie

LYNN – Suffice to say, there isn?t a lot of love between the KIPP Academy and Pioneer Charter girls soccer teams. A year ago, Pioneer bounced the Panthers out of the playoffs in a game that more resembled a rugby match instead of a soccer game.Tuesday at Manning Field, the teams got together again with KIPP facing a Pioneer team that had scored 50 goals en route to wins in its first eight games this season. But coach LeAnne DeRosa?s team was ready for the challenge.A staunch defense led by Helen Maldonado, Corinne Jean-Gilles and Kim Lopez did a fantastic job of putting the shackles on Pioneer and its star striker, Sabrina Khalif. The problem for KIPP was that it couldn?t catch a break at the offensive end of the field as the Panthers had several quality chances, including Alex Huffman?s breakaway in the final seconds, but had to settle for a 0-0 tie.?Our defense was huge for us,” DeRosa said. “We had kind of a long break from playing soccer this week and focused on a little bit of team building and it worked because they came out and played a great game.”Pioneer came in averaging 7.1 goals per game and it looked like it might be ready to add to that total in the early going as it swarmed around the KIPP goal during the opening minutes. Goalkeeper Norah Almamani, who was back between the pipes after missing a couple of games, came up huge and kept the game scoreless.?Norah really did a brilliant job back there for us,” DeRosa said.The Panthers (3-3-2) eventually began to gain a foothold and started to take some of the play to Pioneer. The pressure finally led to a Pioneer foul in the penalty area and a penalty kick for KIPP?s Angela Unubun but her shot went just wide of the goal and it remained scoreless.?That penalty kick did hurt a little bit. It would have been great for us to get the lead there,” DeRosa said.The Panthers had another chance to take the lead late in the half when Mariangeliz Calderon got free and had keeper Jasmine Dessert out of position but her shot trickled just wide of the left post and the teams went to the break scoreless.The second half would feature more back-and-forth action. Khalif finally began to break free as she had a chance to give Pioneer the lead early in the second half but misfired. Five minutes later, she had another chance but Almomani came up with a point-blank save to keep the game scoreless.Then, Huffman got free down the left wing inside the final :30, but Dessert made a diving save to preserve a point for both teams.?We talked about coming out and playing hard and clean,” DeRosa said. “And that?s what we were able to do.”BOYS SOCCERPioneer 8, KIPP 0The Panther boys didn?t fare quite as well in the back end of the doubleheader against Pioneer as they trailed 5-0 and never were able to mount a charge, eventually falling, 8-0.KIPP made a strong push in the second half with some solid efforts from sophomores Kelvin Imalenowa and Jairo Merino Huezo leading the charge in the midfield. Freshman Elias McDonald saw his first start of the season in goal and made 12 saves.