Bulldogs down Blue Devils 3-1 in Girls Soccer

Brooke Kramer doesn’t get too many scoring chances.

So when an opportunity presents itself she wants to make the most of it.

That’s exactly what she did.

The sophomore captain drilled home what turned out to be the game winner as Kenmore East beat Kenmore West, 3-1, in Niagara Frontier League action at “Sparky” Adams Field, Thursday night.

It was the first official league win for the Lady Bulldogs who move to 1-3, 2-4-1 overall.

“Oh my gosh it was so amazing,” Brooke Kramer said, as a smile spread across her face. “As a defender I never get to go up and score. Just the opportunity to go up top and get that penalty kick and everybody huddling together (after the goal). It was so great!”

More than just a big win over their rival Lady Bulldogs coach Jamie Raepple said what pleased her the most was that this was a complete effort from start to finish. The kind of game she wants, and believes, her girls are capable of putting forth each and every game. Regardless of the opponent.

“We haven’t had that all year and we definitely needed that,” Raepple said. “They played a full 80 minutes of soccer and I am super proud of them for that, but again it’s a rivalry game and I normally get that out of East for the rivalry game. I would love to see that in our other games, but it a work in progress. We’re getting there.”

The Bulldogs drew first blood when junior Cameron Wahler scored just 41 seconds into the game.

“Yeah it definitely gave us a boost of confidence that I think we needed as a team,” Wahler said. “It’s a great way to start the game.”

The first goal was extremely crucial given how the two teams played to a 0-0 tie in a game that was played at Kenmore West High School on Monday.

With the Bulldogs and Blue Devils, being in separate division of the NFL Monday’s game was considered a non-leaguer. Though the teams had the option to play an OT session Raepple felt that with four games this it would be in her team’s best interest to respectfully decline the overtime. Leave with a tie so they could have fresher legs when it mattered more.

“Yeah if we had gone into overtime and they had won we would have come into this game down a little bit,” said Kramer.

Raepple clearly made the right call as the Bulldogs had jump in their step and never slowed down.

Both teams played hard and though it naturally got physical, there was no out of control, chippy play by either team.

Julissa Beltran for the Blue Devils on the board with 18:49 left in regulation.

Though they never stopped pressing, Ken-East goalkeeper Maria “George” Costanzo held tough as she made seven saves to preserve the win.

“Of course both games matter but the league games are especially important,” Wahler said.

Gianna Colosimo capped off the scoring when she found the back of the net with 11.9 seconds left in the game.

Ken-East won the girls East-West JV game, 3-2.

West scored a 2-1 win in the boys varsity game that was played at Kenmore West.