Ties usually have teams leaving the field dejected and discouraged. Bronx Science, for good reason, was nothing of the sort after earned a draw with rival Beacon.
A Blue Devils victory would have tied them with Science a top the division standings and possibly throw the playoff seedlings into a tizzy. Things appeared headed that way with Beacon protecting a one-goal lead into the closing seconds.
Instead Meleni Rahaman scored with five ticks left in regulation to help Bronx Science come away with a 1-1 tie with Beacon in PSAL Bronx/Manhattan AI girls’ soccer Sunday afternoon on Randall’s Island. The result earned the Wolverines it first title, since joining the division three seasons ago. Science (12-0-1), which won the first meeting 3-1, will likely be the top seed in the upcoming playoffs.
“We were happy to win the division finally, said Wolverines goalie Jenna Kolodny, who made nine saves. “We’ve never won this division. The tie won us the division, so we are happy.”
She and her team had more then just a title on their minds when they made the late game push. Their intensity changed after Beacon (11-1-2) went up 1-0 on an Emily Mendez penalty kick in the 68th minute. In edition, sophomore Kaya Scheman suffered a head injury away from the ball as Kolodny collided with Layla Devlin to earn Beacon the penalty kick. Scheman was left in pain on the sideline until an ambulance came to take her away.
“I think she will be very happy when she hears the score,” Kolodny said.
Bronx Science coach Annie Eckstein felt her team played tentative for much of the game because they knew all they needed was a tie. She saw a different spark and concentration after Scheman’s injury and the Beacon goal. They effectively used it as motivation and not a distraction.
“That shows the maturity I’ve been looking for all season,” Eckstein said.
Rahaman showed plenty of poise on the tying score. Lydia Wiener served the ball into the box. It was miss played by Blue Devils defender Georgia Eggers to the foot of Amanda Khan. The junior pushed the ball left to Rahaman and she scored over the keeper from eight yards out.
“I took a touch and I was thinking whether I should shoot it or not,” Rahaman said. “I was right in front of the goal so I just shot it.”
It provided what will go down as a tie in record book, but don’t tell Bronx Science that.
“We came out basically with what we call a win,” Kolodny said. “It was a win.”
