Beacon’s Tyler Sloan dribbles the ball up the field. (Robert Cole)
Two-time defending PSAL Class A champion Beacon started ots season the way it finished it last year: with a win over rival Bronx Science.
The Blue Demons topped the Wolverines, 2-0, in both team’s Bronx/Manhattan A-I opener in a rematch of last year’s final at Williamsbridge Oval Friday afternoon. Conference re-alignment allowed the two to play in the regular season for the first time in four seasons. It was evident that Beacon, which has now won 57 straight regular season games, had not lost a step against a Bronx Science side missing top players to injury as they controlled the possession game with relative ease, especially in the midfield.
“I think we came out sort of tentative and tense,” said Bronx Science coach Annie Eckstein. “We just had to settle down.”
For all the possession however, legitimate scoring chances were few and far between.
“I really liked our possession in the midfield in the first 15-20 minutes,” Beacon coach Kevin Jacobs said. “But possession without shooting is not a winning strategy.”
Sophomore forward Jane Huber provided the first breakthrough in the 39th minute; right on the stroke of halftime when a brilliant turn provided enough space for her to launch a 23-yard strike that nicked the crossbar and went into the back of the net.
“I saw the open shot and I thought, ‘why not take it?’” Huber said. “If it goes in great, if it doesn’t, keep going.”
The halftime intermission took a bit longer than expected with lightning delaying proceedings for a half hour. As play resumed, Beacon’s backline continued to be stellar. It allowed very few chances for Bronx Science with a majority of them coming from set pieces far from goal.
“Bianca Aguilar [freshman defender] was great,” Jacobs said. “She played the entire second half and she was just great.”
It all seemed rather pedestrian for Beacon in the second half, mounting the same type of pressure seen in the first half thanks to good ball movement.
A free kick provided insurance for Beacon as junior defender Kelsey Barbosa’s cross pinballed around the box and fell to freshman midfielder Emily Spinale, who chipped a high ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a tough goal to take for Bronx Science, which feels it will only play better the next time the teams meet.
“We settled down in the second half … but that second goal was on us,” Eckstein said. “I think we’re satisfied with that as a starting point, but we still have a lot of work to do.”