From LBPOSTSports.com: It hasn’t happened in five years, since the Wilson Bruins girls’ soccer team lost to Lakewood the season before current coach Jason Kirkwood took over, but on Thursday afternoon the Bruins came within ten minutes of losing a Moore League game to their toughest rival over that span, the Poly Jackrabbits. Instead, a stunning comeback gave the host Bruins a 2-1 win, and the inside track for the Moore League crown in their first game of the season.
For the first five minutes it looked like Wilson (10-2-3, 1-0) might run away with it, as a lack of communication on Poly’s (8-2-4, 1-1) part led to a few “who’s got it” plays and slipups. The Bruins were more aggressive, and looked like they might maintain a midfield advantage. In the sixth minute the Bruins had a chance to take an early lead—when the Poly defenders crept up too much, Emily Dillon took a clear kick and ran right down the middle of the field with it, beating Keyana Thompson-Shaw, the lone defender, and even getting by goalie Corin Villasenor before missing the open net wide left.
After that Poly seemed to sink their cleats in a little, and it was only two minutes before a cross to junior forward Jazmine Rhodes, which she slipped by Bruins keeper Carly Farris, gave the Jackrabbits a 1-0 lead. The goal seemed to swell the ‘Rabbits’ confidence, and they began winning the battle for the middle of the field, keeping the ball on the Bruins’ side for most of the rest of the first half. They had a few scoring opportunities (a well-placed pass from Rhodes to Alexis Leyba, and an on-target free kick that glanced away), but none found their mark.
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