Published in the Boston Globe on October 18, 2012
When New Mission and Boston Community Leadership Academy combined their girls’ soccer teams into this season’s New Mission team, no one knew what the outcome would be.
But with the Boston City League leaders picking up just their first tie of the season, everything seems to be working out.
“It’s been fantastic so far,” New Mission coach Kerry Haczyk said. “[The girls] are really strong off the field and on the field. I think that’s what’s keeping us together.”
The host Titans took on O’Bryant, who rallied for a 2-2 tie. New Mission lost two players to ankle injuries in the first two minutes, including leading scorer Bonnie Ramos, and the Titans’ prospects looked grim.
Senior forward Tenea Davis lifted the Titans’ hopes when she found the back of the net to give New Mission (10-1-1) an early lead.
O’Bryant (7-1-2) quickly responded, tying the game and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
The tie remained into the 80th minute before Ramos, who had returned from the sideline earlier in the period, netted her 12th goal of the season to regain the lead for New Mission.
But just like in the first half, the Tigers knotted the game, as Kiana Daley scored with 30 seconds left on the clock.
O’Bryant coach Jason Joseph said that after New Mission scored, he decided to pull a defender for an extra attacker.
“We needed to try and get a goal,” Joseph said. “We changed the formation a little bit to provide a little bit of offense.”
Coming off a throw-in by sophomore midfielder Irgie Budo, Daley took a pass from 25 yards out and arced the ball over the head of Titans goalkeeper Amarielas Morales.
“Their last shot was really beautiful,” Haczyk said. “Unfortunately, our goalie didn’t stand a chance. It sank right into the back of the net.”