Centofanti spurs Central Bucks South to playoff girls' soccer victory
Margot Centofanti had a feeling as soon as she saw where the foul was called and the soccer ball was placed down on the wet turf at Central Bucks South.
Margot Centofanti had a feeling as soon as she saw where the foul was called and the soccer ball was placed down on the wet turf at Central Bucks South.
Her eyes lit up.
It was just as if she was back on the Turk or Tamanend fields in Warrington with her father, Paul.
Twenty yards out, slightly left of center. That's where the junior defender would be taking the direct kick.
It also happens to be her "sweet spot."
"Right when I hit it I knew it was going in," Centofanti said. "I could feel it."
She was right.
Centofanti's goal in the 49th minute put the Titans ahead in the District 1 Class 4A second-round matchup with West Chester Henderson. It was a lead they would never relinquish as the squad went onto beat the Warriors, 2-0.
"We had so many chances, but we weren't able to put the ball in the net," Centofanti said. "It feels good to win, but we could have gotten more goals."
While Centofanti may have known the ball was headed for the back of the net, her shot seemed to soar at first and looked as if it was headed over the crossbar. Instead, it dipped and went in, igniting a Titans team (15-3-1) that had lacked real scoring chances in the first 40 minutes of play.
"Every time I go to that area I am able to bend it in or curve it in," Centofanti said. "I just feel most comfortable on that side of the field right there. It's a good distance."
While the offensive opportunities were scarce in the first half, C.B. South's defense was tough all contest, squandering any play forward from West Chester Henderson (14-3-3) and disrupting flow.
"Our defense is a really huge key to our team. They win us games," Kylie Walsh said. "As long as we are playing defensively we will be able to work around teams. Our defense shuts down other teams, and I think that is what makes it hard to beat us."
That, and a right back who has spent a lot of time on her neighborhood fields, with her father and a soccer ball, learning how to hit it just right.
W. C. Henderson 0 0 - 0
C.B. South 0 2 - 2
Goals: CBS- Margot Centofanti, Kylie Walsh
Saves: WCH- Sara Lieffrig 7; CBS- Sophia Boggs 2
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