Bison can’t hold off R’heads’ OT attack

By Cody Clifton Correspondent
Published: May 22, 2008

GREENVILLE — Riverheads wanted it more. The Gladiators survived two deficits and several great saves by Bison keeper Brittney Roberts to win the Shenandoah District tournament championship, 3-2, in two overtimes.
Riverheads tried to get the action started, playing aggressive offense and getting multiple shots off at the goal.
Jessica Glover took the Gladiators first shot in the early minutes of the game that ricocheted off the crossbar. Kaitlyn Shomo tried to put the ball back, but her shot went over the goal. The closest the Gladiators got early was when Courtney Shifflett kicked a ground ball towards the right side of the goal, but Roberts made a diving save to preserve the shutout.
The Bison made the most of the first opportunity they had. Buffalo Gap was set up on a corner kick to be taken by Katlyn Botkin. Botkin bent the kicked ball right over Gladiator keeper Liz Mahaney’s jumping attempt into the left corner of the goal to credit the game’s first score.
Riverheads would storm back halfway through the first half. Gladiator Kaitlyn Shomo set up An assist across the field to Olivia Damico. Damico booted the ball into the right side of the goal despite the best attempts by Roberts to save the kick to tie up the score.
“I’m very proud of these girls,” Riverheads coach Homes Tehrani said. “It shows how much heart they have to come back. They wanted it.”
The Gladiators had a reason for wanting the win so bad. Only hours after Mike Dattilio’s funeral, the girls took the field with heavy hearts.
The Gladiators found themselves down again, 2-1, late in the second half. They knew they had to come back. A Riverheads throw in deflected out to Shifflett. Shifflett sailed a kick into the back of the goal past, yet again, another valiant effort to stop the shot by Roberts. The emotion from the goal was evident as Shifflett ran towards midfield, not getting far before being embraced by her teammates.
“My seniors deserved to be here,” Tehrani said. “They deserve a championship.”
Going into overtime, Tehrani let his team know why this game was so important. The Gladiators took the field determined and aggressively took charge of the ball early. A Riverheads set up into the box off of the leg of Jenna Arneson flew through the box finding the head of Lauren Clymore, who headed the ball into the goal to give Riverheads its first lead of the game. The Gladiators knew it was in their grasp as Arneson pumped her fists in the air running down the pitch.
“This was for Coach Dattilio!” Kristin Shomo let out after the game.
Riverheads plays in the first round of Regionals Monday at home against the runner-up from the Bull Run District.