BY GENE NARDI
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Wellington High School girls soccer team traveled across town to play rival Palm Beach Central High School in a district match-up, and rallied to defeat the Broncos 2-1 before a capacity crowd.
The win ends a four-year drought for the Wolverines, who had not beaten the Broncos since 2011. Even though the Broncos bested Wellington 4-3 last season, it was the Wolverines who collected the district and regional titles on their way to a state semifinals appearance.
Going back even further, Wellington had never lost to the Broncos since Palm Beach Central’s inception in 2003, which in itself spurred a solid grudge match each season. Palm Beach Central defeated the Wolverines for the first time in 2012, and has owned local bragging rights since then. Since both teams are local, and many of the athletes play club ball for the same travel teams, they maintain friendships off the high school pitch.
Both teams jostled in midfield for the first 10 minutes without any shots on goal. Wellington (6-3-1) appeared to push the action a bit more, piling up three corner kicks by the water break, but could not capitalize on any opportunities. The Broncos (7-2) would find the back of the net first.
Alexa Martinez intercepted a poorly cleared Wellington ball to the outside, and drove it in to the corner of the net to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. Palm Beach Central’s lead was brief, as the Wolverines built momentum near the closing of the first half, peppering the Bronco goalkeeper in front of the net. In the 37th minute, Claire Masta kicked in the equalizer, driving a low, short ball into the back of the net to end the half in a 1-1 tie.
Wellington continued its pressure, keeping the Broncos on their heels to start the second half, but the Bronco defense stayed the course, denying the Wolverines. In the 60th minute, a Bronco foul set up a free kick from about 30 yards out. Midfielder Samantha Jenkins dropped the ball 6 yards from goal for the Wolverines. The Bronco keeper could not corral the ball, and Samantha Sullivan drove in the go-ahead score to give Wellington the 2-1 lead.
“My captain player got hurt in the first half and there was a disconnect,” said Bronco head coach Tom Dawkins, referring to his midfielder and team captain Aubrey Megrath. “It was a great early-season match, and we’ll see them again in districts.”
As expected, Palm Beach Central pushed back, orchestrating several offensive attacks, but Wellington’s defense would sweep away all Bronco attacks at the net. Both teams went back and forth at the net, but it was Wellington that would not be denied the victory.
“It’s always nice to beat your crosstown rival where everybody knows each other,” Wellington coach Mike Kozlowski said. “In the grand scheme of things, this is a game we needed to have.”
The Wolverines compiled seven corner kicks on the night. Jenkins had two assists, and Sullivan and Masta are credited with goals for the Wolverines. Martinez had the lone goal for the Broncos. Palm Beach Central goalkeeper Shianne Duplantis had nine saves.
Wellington played Glades Central and Palm Beach Central played Somerset Canyons earlier in the week, but results were not available by press time.
ABOVE: Wellington’s Claire Masta scores the equalizing goal late in the first half.
