The 2022 season opener for the Triton College women's soccer team Aug. 24 in River Grove against Bryant and Stratton (WI) felt more like a postseason game with plenty of twists and drama.
However, in the end the No. 19 NJCAA Division II ranked Trojans made the plays when they had too late.
Freshman
Micaela Sanchez (Von Steuben) punched in the eventual game-winning goal with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Then Triton had to make an array of defensive stands the final five minutes to hold off the Bobcats by a 2-1 final.
The Trojans got on the board midway through the first half off a goal from sophomore midfielder
Keiley Castellanos (Proviso West).
It appeared for most of the second half, the Castellanos tally would hold up.
Triton played the match without a true goalkeeper as defender
Janett Rabadan (Von Steuben) was given the emergency start in goal. Rabadan handled the few chances that came her way before the Bobcats floated a long ball from 30 yards over her head to tie the game with 25 minutes left.
Then after the dramatics by Sanchez to give the Trojans the lead back, Rabadan made a pair of big stops the closing minutes as Bryant and Stratton had three free kicks from just outside the box, two corner kick opportunities along with a disallowed goal in a wild sequence.
"We played hard until the end and was happy with the result," said Triton assistant coach
Maciej Orlowski. "I felt we controlled most of the game and got sloppy the last five minutes and that is something we will work on."
Triton had their next two scheduled games canceled due to those schools not being able to field a team and will not return to action until Sept. 10 when they visit Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. Kick-off is 2 p.m.
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