By Anthony Gadson
Pilot Sports
SOUTH BEND - After slaying the Dragons on Saturday, the Culver Girls Academy Eagles weren't so fortunate against the Knights Wednesday night.
The Eagles earned their way to the South Bend Riley Regional by defeating the Argos Dragons 3-0 in Saturday's sectional championship, but the Mishawaka Marian Knights proved too much at School Field, defeating the Eagles 4-0.
Coming into the match, Marian coach Carlos Reynolds had received his knowledge of CGA by taking a trip on the information superhighway.
“I didn't know too much about them,” the winning coach said. “I checked on the internet and they have a very nice web site, I can tell you that. I really didn't know what to expect.”
CGA coach Harry Canellakis had a little more insight into the Marian program.
“We knew they were very fast up front,” he said. “They also are a very honest team in that they do the little things right. They win balls in the air, get the ball out wide, get the ball to their speedy players and get around defenders. They're a good team.”
All of the traits Canellakis described were on display in the first half.
Marian's first goal came when senior forward Jessica Byron received a pass from freshman Andrea Wade and hit a header past CGA senior goalkeeper Olabisi Ibrahim at the 16:20 mark. Following that goal, Jessica Byron struck again four minutes later, scoring off a pass from her twin sister and fellow Miami (Ohio) recruit, Rachel Byron, at the 12:06 mark. Jessica Byron's third goal of the night came at the 6:05 mark, when she hit a rebounded ball off her knees into the goal, putting the Knights on top 3-0.
Jessica Byron is Marian's leading scorer, but Reynolds isn't sure if she had pulled off a hat-trick prior to the regional match.
“I think it's the first time she's scored three (goals),” Reynolds said. “Every time she's got a chance to finish, she will. Tonight was a great night for her.”
Marian received its fourth goal of the night from junior Kathryn Wade with only 9:50 remaining in the match, but by that time, Marian already had the win wrapped up.
Reynolds thought his team came out a little slow, but after Jessica Byron's first goal, settled down.
“In the first 10 minutes, I think we were playing hard, but they were defending well,” he said. “After we scored that goal, I felt more comfortable. (The Eagles) are a good team. They battled, especially in the second half. They came to show what they were. They played hard, and it wasn't easy for us.”
For Canellakis, he opted to talk to his girls about their 11-4-4 season record, rather than the 4-0 defeat.
“After a season like we had, we talked about the positives,” he said about his postgame speech. “This was not an ideal way to end the season, especially with the way we played, but right now I'm not really thinking about that. I'm thinking about the way my team played over the course of year.”
And with only seven seniors on the team, CGA will return a majority of its core players in 2007.
“That's one positive out of today,” Canellakis said about the team's youth. “I don't think Culver's been to a regional for seven or eight years. Now, all of sudden, we have a lot of players coming back next year who have regional-level experience. That's a very good thing.”
With the win, Marian (17-3) will now travel to face 14-2-4 Wawasee on Saturday at the Valparaiso Semistate.
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 4, CULVER GIRLS ACADEMY 0
At South Bend Riley Regional
First Half
M - Jessica Byron (Andrea Wade) 24th minute.
M - J. Byron (Rachel Byron) 28th minute.
M - J. Byron 34th minute.
Second Half
M - Kathryn Wade 71st minute.
Shots on Goal: Marian 11; CGA 5.
Saves: Marian 5 (Ashleigh Lemp); CGA 6.
Fouls: Marian 9, CGA 6.
Yellow Cards: Marian 1 (Krystal Koucouthakis)
Corner Kicks: Marian 2; CGA 3.
Records: Marian 17-3; CGA 11-4-4 (final).