The Lady Irish Soccer Team completed the first week of the season with a third consecutive road match.  After earning draws against 3A powers, the Irish traveled to rival North Central to take on the Panthers.  The two teams have quite a history through the years as they faced off many times in the North Central sectional prior to the institution of class play.

The JV team jumped all over the hosts and took advantage of the offside trap the Panthers initially employed.  The goals came on a regular basis even as the Panthers were able to score one of their own.  The score was 5-1 at the halftime whistle.  Cathedral intentionally took their foot off the peddle in a show of good sportsmanship.  The final score was 8-1 in an absolutely dominant performance.

The varsity match proved to be much closer.  The Irish took an early lead in the 3rd minute as Maddie Wirth for the second time this season found Caroline Cline for a score.  Wirth played a through ball to Cline who slipped it past the North Central Keeper.  The balance of the first half saw only a few opportunities for either team until the 37th minute when the Irish earned a corner kick.  Junior Ellie Sheddy drove a ball to the far post where it was met with a number of players.  Senior Zoie Obst rose above the pack and headed the ball into the Panther goal.  The half ended with the score 2-0.

The Irish did not play quite as well in the second half.  Playing their third match in six days and needing to replace the starting keeper due to continuing back trouble, the Irish absorbed more pressure from the Panthers who came into the match with fresh legs.  The Panthers were able to make it a one goal game in the 70th minute when they scored from just inside the corner of the box and off the far post.  Cathedral did not lose their nerve.  The last 10 minutes were played out with little drama and the Irish tallied their first win of the 2018 season!  Well done ladies!

Cathedral will play their next matches this coming Saturday at the Carmel Invitational where they will take on nationally ranked Carmel (3A #1) and Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (2A #13).