ILION 2, MT. MARKHAM 1
The Ilion Golden Bombers have high hopes for the 2010 season, Knocking off one of the bullies of the Center State Conference’s Eastern Division was a big first step Wednesday.
Marissa Maldonado, one of six senior starters for the Golden Bombers, scored off a penalty corner with 40 seconds left in regulation and the Golden Bombers defeated the Mt. Markham Mustangs 2-1 at Barringer Road Elementary School.
The Golden Bombers were awarded the corner in the final minute of play and played the ball into a crowd near the left post. The ball was knocked around, hitting the goalie’s pads at least once and the post at another point before Maldonado reversed her stick and swept the loose ball into the cage for the unassisted winning goal.
“I was ready for the rebound,” Maldonado said. “We’re all fighting for the same thing. We all wanted the goal.”
Ilion had struck first and led 1-0 at halftime on Ariel Mroz-Brewer’s goal assisted by Emily Gilman on a corner. A goal scored by Kristen McKane pulled the Mustangs even in the middle of the second half.
Mt. Markham had 13 corners to Ilion’s six but the two successful conversions paid off for Ilion which had a 7-6 edge in shots on goal.
Alicia Simmons made four saves for Ilion. Katie Collins stopped six shots for Mt. Markham.
The opening win puts Ilion in a good position as the season hits its stride. The Golden Bombers finished third in the league last fall behind Little Falls and Mt. Markham.
“Even when I played Mt. Markham was a pretty intense team to play,” said third-year Ilion coach Kelly Rowland who finished her playing days in 1997. “To get this win, it’s big. ... It’s a sweet right at the end.”
The win was the first for the Golden Bombers against the Mustangs in more than seven years.
Ilion plays in a tournament at Sherburne-Earlville beginning Friday. Mt. Markham has a non-league game on the road Monday against Holland Patent.
Compiled From Times Staff Reports
