By Keith Rainville
Sports Editor

2-23-2008

The Lady Broncos soccer season came to an end on Wednesday at the hands of Arrowhead Christian. Bishop lost 0-4 to a strong and talented opponent in the second round of the CIFSS Division 6 playoffs. The Lady Eagles were able to control the run of play and use their size and physical play to score goals.

On another windy afternoon, Bishop won the coin toss and elected to start with the wind at their backs. However, Arrowhead was able to deal with the handicap and used short passes on the ground to string along its attack. Bishop goal keeper Alyssa Cammarata had a busy day, moving around the 18-yard box aggressively to make saves.

Whitney Pate battles for a 50/50 ball in the Lady Broncos’ second-round playoff game on Wednesday. Photo by Steve Garrison

“Arrowhead beat us to the ball,” said Bishop head coach Dave Mappus. “You can’t play at this stage in the season without intensity and we just did not seem to have it.”
The Lady Eagles scored 15 minutes into the game on a cross from the sidelines. A good pass from the right corner fell into the box and was fired home for the goal.
The score seemed to wake Bishop up, and the Lady Broncos then had a good run of pressure resulting in a pair of shots. The Arrowhead defenders did a good job of controlling the middle of the field and speedy Bishop forwards Kaleigh McClinton and Angela Borin couldn’t get free for open looks.
“We never got into our rhythm,” said Mappus. “Without rhythm and attack, you’re not going to win a playoff game.”
The game got increasingly physical as the half went on, with players finishing their challenges with extended arms. The Lady Eagles scored a controversial goal just before the half when an Arrowhead forward kicked the ball out of Cammarata’s hands. The Bishop keeper had made a save diving to her left. The ball was between her hands but a Lady Eagles took a swipe at it and knocked it in. The rule book states that when the goalie has possession of the ball, it is illegal to try to knock it free. Broncos forward Galen Busby was yellow-carded for a similar play earlier this year and the goal was disallowed.
In the second half, Arrowhead used the wind and strong passing to control the possession of the ball and score two more goals. Early in the half, Bishop tried to clear a dangerous cross deep into the 18-yard box. Defender Stephanie O’Quinn put a strong leg into the ball, but it bounced off a Lady Eagles forward. Jazmin Rossi won the loose ball and also tried to clear it for Bishop, but her boot deflected off another player onto the foot on an Arrowhead player. The Cammarata challenged the open look, but the Arrowhead forward was able to pass the ball low and left into the net for a 3-0 lead.
Despite the deficit, the Lady Broncos continued to battle, but just couldn’t string enough passes together to break down the Lady Eagles defense.
Coach Mappus said that he was impressed with the way his seniors played hard and never quit. “Whitney Pate was the heart and soul of our team; Angela Borin never stopped trying; without Ceina Runley’s efforts we may have never made it this far in the first place; Heidi Patrykus who brought leadership and dedication to our team; Jazmin Rossi who played anywhere I asked her to and never quit; and Jennifer Garrison, Amanda McCartney and Jennifer Mappus who all had key rolls in our success this season,” he said.
Cammarata made several more strong saves in the second half, but Arrowhead scored a late goal on a miscommunication for the 4-0 final.
Bishop wrapped up its season with a 9-4-1 record in the High Desert League, good for third place and a 2-1 record in the playoffs, having advanced to the second round.
Mappus said that the underclassmen like Sara Tatum, Katie Campbell, Nabil Torres, Amanda Fix, Carla Eckland, Mikaela Griffiths, O’Quinn, McClinton, Janelle Freeman, Jenna Sliger and Cammarata will keep the program in good shape next season.