Delta fights Demons to a 1-1 tie

Glenwood controls scoring chances but can’t find the net

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Post Independent Photos Glenwood Springs High School’s Kendall Strautman charges the goal against Delta Thursday afternoon at Stubler Memorial Field. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Kelley Cox Post Independent

By Jeff Caspersen
Glenwood Springs Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
April 18, 2008

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Delta 1, Glenwood Springs 1

Thursday at Glenwood Springs Delta 1 0 0 — 1 Glenwood 1 0 0 — 1 Goals (assist): D — Hannah Roberson (Alyssa Dransfield), 2:55; GS — Carly Stillman, 19:55. Goalies (saves): D — Tanesha Smith (13); GS — Kelsie Hert (5).

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — It was just one of those days for the Glenwood Springs girls soccer team. One of those days when the easy shots sailed high or rolled wide but a freakish one found the back of the net.

Despite dominating the possession battle and numerous promising scoring chances, Glenwood fought to a 1-all draw with visiting Delta on Thursday.

The freakish shot mentioned above came courtesy of Carly Stillman, who squared the contest 17 minutes and 55 seconds into the game. Flashing her sniper skills, the blonde-locked midfielder took aim from probably 35 yards out and put some juice behind a line-drive kick that found net.

That shot came exactly 17 minutes after Delta took a very early lead courtesy of Hannah Roberson.

Just 2:55 into the late afternoon contest, Alyssa Dransfield, stationed in the heart of the 18-yard box, tapped a ball forward to Roberson, who, from the right flat, rolled an uncontested shot left of Glenwood goalkeeper Kelsie Hert.

From there, most scoring chances belonged to the Demons. Unfortunately for the hosts, every one of those opportunities missed the mark.

“It was just tough,” Stillman said. “We had so many opportunities.”

Added Glenwood coach Bryan Stoltzfus: “It was just one of those days. I don’t think I had them very well prepared. I’ll take half the blame if they take half.”

Stoltzfus’ team looked somewhat listless most of the second half. After putting eight shots on goal to the Panthers’ three in the first half, the Demons had just a 4-2 shots-on-goal advantage in the second half.

Timing her challenges and making a spectacular save or two, Delta goalkeeper Tanesha Smith defused many a Glenwood scoring threat, including a diving stop of a Chelsea Vallario penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half.

“Their keeper was definitely very aggressive,” said Glenwood midfielder Carly Stillman, who had her team’s sole goal. “She was able to keep a lot of balls out of the goal.”

The Demons (5-3-1 overall, 5-2-1 in the 4A Western Slope League) had some good looks at goal late in the game, including a line drive from the right corner by Leah Mansfield that pinged off the cross bar.

With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, a sprawling Smith stopped what appeared to be hard cross from Mansfield. The most agonizing aspect of the play for Glenwood: Demon Allie Rippy stood waiting, with an open net in front of her, on the other side of Smith.

“She had a phenomenal game,” Delta coach Julie Mottern said of Smith. “You know, she’s had a couple of games like that. She’s a senior, one of my captains.”

Smith’s heroics, and a little bit of luck, got the job done for a young Delta squad, now 5-4-2 overall and 5-3-2 in the 4A WSL.

Given their win in the possession and scoring threat battles, Stoltzfus and his Demons left the field scratching their heads.

“Might as well count that as a win to Delta, for them to come here and tie,” he said, disappointed. “They outplayed us in the second half as far as being aggressive.”