The Lynn Classical Rams defeated the Winthrop Vikings on Saturday afternoon, 1-0, at Manning Field.
Ava Thurman’s goal-of-the-year candidate put Classical up early – going crossbar-down on a free kick from the left side. With keeper Lauren Wilson collecting 16 saves, the Green and Gold never looked back.
Chances were limited early on, but Classical’s Delaney Dana was effective in tracking down loose balls to establish possession. Mea Papazoglou almost had a breakaway, but the ball was deflected away by the last line of defense.
Thurman sent a cross in front of the goal minutes after her tally, but Winthrop goalkeeper Amelia Spencer dove to disrupt the attempt.
Winthrop’s Reese Brodin was two steps short of a breakaway. Classical keeper Lauren Wilson read the lead pass and scooped things up before Brodin could race to it. Winthrop’s Kaylee Farrell got a partial breakaway after a curving lead pass hit her right on the cleat – her attempt went wide right, however.
Classical responded with a chance, testing Spencer up high again, but Gianna Parker’s slot kick rose over the crossbar.
The Rams dominated in time of possession, but struggled to get down near the goal and were limited to outside play. Winthrop didn’t test Classical in the first half other than a Maddie Stiglets slot attempt that Wilson smothered.
Dulce Juarez caught eyes defensively, stealing a Winthrop pass before racing downfield. Moments later, Tatiano Lazo intercepted a pass on the Vikings’ next possession.
The halftime score read 1-0 with Thurman’s kick the only one to find the back of the net.
“That was a beautiful goal,” Classical Head Coach Jessica Gambale said. “Ava’s got a great shot, but some of her header goals off of corners are probably my favorite.”
Thurman crossed a two-on-one ball near the left post just two minutes into the second half, but Dana was swarmed and couldn’t corall it. Minutes later, Thurman looked left, dribbled right in with an impressive misdirection move – just stepping out of bounds afterwards, however.
Wilson overextended on a lead pass and let Winthrop’s Mia Norris get behind her with possession. Norris couldn’t control the ball cleanly and Classical survived the scare.
In a busy half for Classical’s forwards, Dana controlled a two-on-one with Thurman on her right. She chose to shoot and Spencer got her body in front of it.
Wilson’s activity increased as the half progressed, facing a Winthrop attempt in the slot before diving on a cross the next play. The game stayed scoreless.
“Lauren is such an athlete,” Gambale said. “She’s been a brick wall for us.”
Spencer made a timely grab on a Classical shot aimed a foot over her head, keeping Winthrop in the game with around 10 minutes remaining.
The Vikings dominated the final 10 minutes, but Classica’s defenders were effective in keeping things away from Wilson and not letting Winthrop run their set offense as designed.
Time expired and Classical held on in shutout fashion to grab their ninth win of the season. They host Malden on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Manning Field.
