Willowbrook wastes no time earning victory
To say the least, Willowbrook's girls soccer team had a fast start to its game against Fenton.
The Warriors (4-4) scored just 20 seconds into Friday's nonconference game off a goal from junior Bridget Garner to start off a 3-0 dominating win against the Bison, who were held without a shot on goal.
Garner's goal came from the start of the game when Samantha Wozniak found Garner cutting in from her outside run. Wozniak found Garner and the junior cut the ball to her left, slotting it past the Fenton goalkeeper.
"Actually a very, very quick start," said Willowbrook coach Victor Marquez. "I think then obviously little by little in the game on their end they also started settling. We were playing too much of a long ball in the first half. We talked about making that adjustment and playing a more on the ground, passing, going on the outside and eliminating the long ball as much as we could. It worked right away."
The Warriors continued to press up high the field but struggled to put in a solid chance, until 11 minutes in the half when senior captain Natalie Wolski took advantage of a Fenton mistake.
After a hand ball call, Wolski converted her free kick at the top of the 18-yard box, beating the goalkeeper, who couldn't get two hands on the ball.
Heading into the second half, a lack of Fenton (1-3) attack and possession game continued to allow Willowbrook to keep the pressure on.
As instructed by Marquez, the Warriors kept the ball on the ground and the passing paid off for the third goal.
Right midfielder Kassandra Darrus found Wozniak making a run through the middle of the box and found her with a nice pass through a couple of defenders. Wolski's first touch put the ball in the air, but the junior hit a nice half volley to convert the chance.
Fenton goalkeeper Doris Garcia then put in a good final 30 minutes of work with a couple of real nice diving saves toward the end of the game. The senior finished with 14 saves on the night.
"At the beginning she was nervous, and you could tell by the first two goals she let in," said Fenton coach Victor Ruiz. "But second half she woke up, and if it wasn't for her the score would be totally different. She did have an amazing game."