St. Vincent girls soccer team displays strong defense in season-opening win

Both the Central and St. Vincent girls soccer teams came into this season wondering how changes would affect their respective teams.

Central was looking to replace 10 seniors from a team that finished 10-13-1 a year ago, while Keith Volansky was taking the helm of a St. Vincent team that finished 19-5-1 and was a Class 1 District 1 runner-up last season.

Experience won out Monday as St. Vincent, behind two goals from Holly Blandford, blanked the Tigers 4-0.

The game, originally scheduled to be played in Perryville, was moved to Central because of wet conditions at St. Vincent. The change barely fazed the Indians, who controlled play at the midfield for much of the contest and used a suffocating defense that limited Central to just four shots on goal.

"It was a great way to start the season," said Volansky. "The formation we've been working on is totally different than anything they've ever worked on, but we really played well together and passed the ball well.

St. Vincent’s Emily Welker kicks the ball away from Central’s Abby Shupert during the first half.

"And our defense was dynamite."

Blandford broke a scoreless tie by converting on a penalty kick at 19 minutes, 5 seconds into the first half. She made it 2-0 less than five minutes later when she ran onto the ball down the left side and ripped a shot past Central goalkeeper Bri Shaw.

"She's got a missile," Volansky said about his junior forward. "She's a big team player."

Blandford was in the middle of St. Vincent's third score, winning a battle with Central defender Emily Daly and passing ahead to freshman Jordin Wingerter, who rolled the ball into the left side of the net from 15 yards out to make it 3-0 early in the second half.

St. Vincent's final score came when senior midfielder Holly Cissell corralled a loose ball, took it straight up the middle and shot into the corner of the net from 18 yards out.

Central's Emily Daly dribbles the ball away from St. Vincent's Holly Blandford in the second half Monday, March 18, 2013 at Central. (Fred Lynch)

"I was kind of anxious," Blandford said about playing the Indians' season-opener. "We have a new team, and we wanted to see how we work together. I think we did really good. I like how we played. Our passing was pretty in sync."

Central coach Dan Martin saw a lot of positives in the Tigers' play despite the fact poor weather conditions have prevented Central from practicing outside for much of the early season.

"They're [St. Vincent] a tough team," Martin said. "They've got a very established program. But I thought we played with them for quite some time."

Even after the Indians scored first on the penalty kick, the Tigers were able to create chances offensively although most of Central's forays into St. Vincent territory didn't result in a shot on goal.

"I felt we still had fight in us," Martin said. "For the first game, that was good to see."

Blandford, Emily Welker and Brooke Monier each had assists for St. Vincent, while Katie Mattingly notched four saves.