GIRLS PREP SOCCER: Early goal stands up for Alton in 1-0 win over O’Fallon

Redbirds finally get a one-goal win over O’Fallon

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

 Updated 7:40 am CDT, Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Photo:

Pete Hayes | The Telegraph

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Maggie Evans of Alton, right, chases down O’Fallon’s Abby Burkhalter during Tuesday’s Southwestern Conference game at Alton High. Alton won 1-0.

GODFREY — Two markings of what’s become a typical Alton-O’Fallon girls soccer game were there Tuesday - it was a nail biter and it came down to a one-goal difference.

But this time, the one-goal victory went to Alton High, 1-0, at Piasa Motor Fuels Field. After dropping two one-goal decisions to the Panthers earlier this season, Alton switched things around.

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Thanks to an early goal from Alaina Nasello and a hawking defense, the Redbirds ran their record to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the Southwestern Conference, pending the outcome of a game was was suspended on April 4 because of weather conditions. The game had reached halftime with Alton leading 2-0. But instead of awarding the decision to Alton, as called for by IHSA rules, officials suspended the game. The second half will be played April 29 at AHS.

Following Tuesday’s result, O’Fallon is 9-4-1 and 3-4. Coming into the game, the Panthers owned a pair of one-goal wins over Alton. They won 2-1 in overtime in the Metro Cup tournament and then posted a 1-0 SWC victory March 26 in O’Fallon.

Alton will step out of the SWC Wednesday with a home game against Hazelwood West and will play host to Granite City on April 22.

Tuesday, the Redbirds grabbed their one-goal lead in the fourth minute. Alaina Nasello punched in a rebound after a corner kick she had taken was deflected and caromed back out.

“It was a good goal,” Sabo said. “Alaina was right where she was supposed to be.”

The Redbirds defense took it from there.

Playing in warmer temperatures than the teams had been used to, the fast-paced first half gave way to a more methodical second half.

“Fitness came into play, for us at least,” Sabo said. “Both teams were more tired the second half than in the earlier games. This was really our first game in warm weather.”

Alton created four other solid scoring chances in the first half.

The Redbirds had a chance to double their lead in the 16th minute out of a scramble in front of the O’Fallon goal, but Panthers goalie Sarah Cooley smothered the ball just outside the goal line.

In the 25th minute, a direct free kick from 40 yards by the Redbirds’ Calista Cox was tipped over the crossbar by Cooley. And in the 32nd minute Maggie Evans shot from 20 yards was just high over the crossbar.

“We had chances but didn’t finish,” Sabo said. “That can come back to haunt you sometimes, but luckily it didn’t today.”

In the second half, the Panthers applied more pressure and had more of the ball possession, but weren’t able to find the back of the net.

Back-to-back O’Fallon corner kicks midway through the second half were cleared by the Alton defense, which notched its eighth shutout of the season. Another corner kick with 1:50 remaining in the game was cleared as well.

“Playing with a one-goal lead for nearly the whole game can be a little nerve-wracking,” Sabo said. “But our defense played well.”