Megan Xavier was a helpless spectator last year as her Bishop Machebeuf teammates were crushed 10-0 by Faith Christian.
It was the kind of game she had to watch but couldn’t bear to be at the same time.
Wednesday’s replay proved to be shockingly different. Under a new coach and with new tactics, the Buffaloes withstood everything the top-ranked Eagles could muster on a blustery day, before Xavier scored seven minutes into the second half to complete a stunning 1-0 victory.
While last year’s game was cut short after 74 minutes because of the mercy rule, Wednesday’s encounter was 80 minutes of slow redemption for the Buffaloes, who had not defeated their Class 3A Metropolitan League rival since 2004.
The Buffaloes (4-2, 1-0 in league) played simple touch soccer – moving the ball quickly through the midfield, passing with anticipation and defending with a zone scheme and a man-mark on Faith Christian junior midfielder Holly Hoguta.
“We wanted it more,” Xavier said.
Faith Christian coach Will Lind agreed.
“There’s no excuse for it,” he said after the Eagles fell to 4-2, 1-1 in league.
After surviving a first half playing into the wind and defending the downhill side, the Buffaloes swarmed the Eagles’ goal after halftime.
Defender Gaby Gould just missed the far post 19 seconds into the second half and Xavier had her slow shot saved off the line by a defender in the 43rd minute. She wouldn’t make the same mistake four minutes later.
With the ball played in from the right side, Xavier and an Eagles defender battled before Xavier turned and fired a curling shot that beat substitute goalie Kristin Gaudreau to her near post.
“We wanted to work on our shape in the first half and as long as we weathered the storm I knew we were going to get some goals,” Buffaloes first-year coach Brian Stanford said.
Goalie Claudia Ibbarra made five saves as the Buffaloes won their third straight behind their third consecutive shutout.
Faith Christian 0 0 – 0
Bishop Machebeuf 0 1 – 1
Goal – Xavier (unassisted), 47th minute. Shots on goal – Faith Christian 4-1 . 5; Bishop Machebeuf 0-2 . 2. Saves – Faith Christian (Bartusek, 40 minutes; Gaudreau 40) 0-0 – 0; Bishop Machebeuf (Ibbarra) 4-1 – 5. Offsides – Faith Christian 2-2 – 4; Bishop Machebeuf 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks – Faith Christian 0-0 – 0; Bishop Machebeuf 1-3 – 4. Fouls – Faith Christian 8-4 – 12; Bishop Machebeuf 7-8 – 15. Yellow cards – Fondy, FC, 25th minute; Brown, BM, 32nd; Cronan, BM, 58th; Xavier, BM, 66th.
