BY GENE NARDI
The Palm Beach Central High School girls varsity soccer team visited Wellington High School on Friday, Dec. 7 to take on their cross-town rivals, besting the Wolverines 3-0. The win for the Broncos gave them local bragging rights for the second straight season.
Last year, Palm Beach Central defeated Wellington 4-1 for the first time in the school’s history.
The Wolverines were able to play strong defensively, fighting off multiple Bronco attacks, but 18-minutes in, striker Yulie Lopez broke through and struck from 12 yards out, to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines were unable to capitalize on two opportunities to equalize but defensively held off the Broncos’ constant pressure to close out the half.
The Broncos would strike twice more in the second half. The second goal would not come until the 56th minute. Aubrey Megrath launched a rocket from about 22 yards out, sending the ball into the right corner of the net to extend the Palm Beach Central lead 2-0. Wellington fought back but had difficulty maintaining possession beyond midfield to mount any kind of a threat to the Bronco goal.
The Wolverines did manage to force Bronco goalkeeper Haley Brunner to make six saves on the night for her fifth shutout. Lopez would send in her second goal of the night in the 76th minute to put the Broncos up 3-0. Wellington goalkeeper Jessie Hole finished the night with 14 saves.
The Lady Broncos defeated Atlantic 6-2 on Monday. Wellington’s game against Palm Beach Lakes was canceled.
Wellington travels to Dwyer on Friday for a 6 p.m. game. Also Friday, Palm Beach Central travels to Boynton Beach for a 6 p.m. game.
Above:Â Bronco Yulie Lopez tries to get by WHS defender Diana Manjarres.
