Sweet Home girls soccer lose in Tonawanda tourney finals

The Sweet Home varsity girls soccer team lost 2-0 in two overtimes against Tonawanda in the finals of the Tonawanda Dan Durick Kickoff Tournament on Saturday.

Tonawanda scored with three minutes to play in the second overtime.

Sweet Home head coach Scott Martin said his team made some quick adjustments to push forward and tie the game but Tonawanda would score again with less than a minute to play.

Martin lauded the goaltending work of freshman goalkeeper Julie Goetz.

"She has no prior experience playing goal and has started three games so far as just a freshman," said Martin. "She has exceeded my expectation considering her lack of experience at that position."

Martin said both teams played physical and hard fought through all of regulation and overtime.

Sweet Home defeated Depew, 4-3, in penalty kicks in the first round.

Sarah Williams scored at the 18:37 mark of the first half to give Sweet Home a 1-0 lead.

Depew would tie the game shortly before halftime.

In the second half, Depew took a 2-1 lead but moments later Sweet Home's Mariah Mergler scored her first career goal to tie the game at 2.

Depew would again take the lead, 3-2, but Williams scored her second goal of the game to force overtime with just under eight minutes to play in regulation. After two scoreless overtimes, the game was decided on penalty kicks.

Goetz played the entire regulation and most of overtime in goal but with 30 seconds to play in overtime, senior Rebecca Schnirel switched with Goetz and played goal for the penalty kicks. Schnirel made two huge saves and Kelly Weber finished the deciding penalty kick to give Sweet Home the win.

"This wasn't the prettiest of wins but sometimes you have to take a win any way you can get it," said Martin.

Martin said he was proud of the way his team battled in each game, but feels his team has a long way to go in a short time if they expect to compete in sectionals.

Sweet Home's first league game resulted in a 2-0 defeat at Williamsville North last Thursday.

North scored about 30 minutes into the first half to take a 1-0 lead. North scored again midway through the second half to take a 2-0 lead.

"We had a few chances before the close of the half to score but North dominated just about all of the game," said Martin.

Goetz recorded 32 saves in goal.