Cosmos girls nip Slaters in wild affair

It was a game that had a little bit of everything: seven goals, four yellow cards, a tie-breaking tally and game-ending controversy.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Cosmos girls nip Slaters in wild affair Rutland Herald | September 11, 2018 By POODY WALSH CORRESPONDENT SPRINGFIELD — It was a game that had a little bit of everything: seven goals, four yellow cards, a tie-breaking tally and game-ending controversy. In the end, Springfield was a 4-3 winner over Fair Haven in a Marble Valley League girls soccer game on Tuesday, but getting to victory lane was like walking through a mine field. Fair Haven trailed 3-1 early in the second half but scrapped back to tie it at 3-3. But with 8:54 to go, Springfield’s Jenna Veysey made a midfield dash with Slater Ashley Carvey in hot pursuit and tapped in the game winner as the Cosmos held on. While that was the end of the scoring, it was not the end of the serious play as the Slaters mounted a late-game assault that tested Springfield keeper Mykahla Jasinski who, as it turned out, was equal to the task. And just as the game was in its final seconds there was a lot of confusion as Fair Haven coach Ian Aiken thought there was a hand ball before the final horn sounded. The players stayed on the field and the officials met and it was decided that there was no violation and the game was over. The pace of the game was crisp from start to finish and the offenses from both teams were charged. The action on the field was also felt on the sideline where three of the four yellow cards were issued. What perhaps was most significant on the day is that the Springfield victory (2-1) now gives the Cosmos just as many victories as they had last year. Why? “We had some new kids move into the area and our seniors are maturing and showing leadership,” said Springfield coach Kevin Hoisington. “The way Springfield played here today doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Aiken. “I said before the season that they were going to be one of the most improved teams.” Lost in all the cards and a controversy was the play of Fair Haven sophomore Emma Briggs, who moved about the Gurney Field surface like a water bug and scored all three of the Slater goals, all coming in the second half as the Slaters solved the finishing problem that followed them around in the first half. “Yes, we left some goals on the field in the first half,” said Aiken. “Still, we made a nice comeback from two goals down in the second half.” Fair Haven trailed 3-1 with 35 minutes to go in the game when it began to claw its way back into the game. It was 3-2 with 29:24 to go and Briggs was in the right place at the right time when teammate Megan Ezzo’s shot bounced off the hands of Jasinski and onto the foot of Briggs, who snapped in the rebound. The goal that tied the game was a thing of beauty as Briggs scooted from midfield down the right side, outraced the defense and shot from the right side into the netting inside the far post. There was no scoring for a long time in the first half, followed by a surprise goal as Springfield’s Emily Benson launched a long, looping direct kick from a tough angle to the right of Fair Haven keeper Emma Ezzo that slipped under the crossbar. It was 2-0 before the half when Cosmo Kayla Gibbons threaded a pass to Veysey who chipped the ball over Ezzo’s head. Fair Haven, 1-3, hosts Arlington on Thursday while Springfield is off until Bellows Falls comes to town next Monday.